Mexico, parte uno

Because I've been emailing my mom/family to keep them updated I decided I'll probably just copy past my emails in here for my followers to read.  It's a response to a question filled email she sent me so if it's written a bit weird sorry but I'm not going back through to edit it for ya'll lol. But it's pretty detailed and will give you a taste of what my first 3 days have been like.


Hola mama!

There are a total of 4 other girls staying with me.  Three are from different parts of Mexico and one is from America (California).  Two of them live together in a room in the house and the other two live in a sort of guest house connected to the house.  The place is very nice.  I think the floors are marble tile... but everything is nice.  It's a similar "niceness" to what we have here, just a Mexican version.  Each room has it's own bathroom and large walk in closet with built in shelving (each room houses 2-3 girls, except for some reason I'm in the master bedroom right now). NO buildings have ac at all!  Not banks or malls or government offices, only buildings by the beach (says my Mexican roommate)  They really don't need it I guess because the weather is gorgeous (except I do get drenched with sweat walking to school in the morning when it's humid and at 3pm when the sun is hot) but if I'm not walking with my backpack on the weather is perfect.  So far it hasn't rained in the day and it's only rained at night.  I think it's mostly like that.  We also have a live in housekeeper that makes and serves us all our meals.  A hot breakfast is waiting for us by 7am complete with freshly squeezed orange juice.  They squeeze (with a juicer) all their own juice here (so far I've had papaya with lemon, lemon with mint, orange and skipped the mango) and we have fresh fruit with every meal (usually as a desert). The eating times are different though.  You eat breakfast in the morning then at lunch you have a snack (something small- I pack 1 or 2 pieces of fruit and that's it) then you eat a big meal (like dinner) at 3 or 4 in the afternoon (when I get home from school it's ready and waiting for me, 3 courses) and then you eat again around 9 or 10pm but it's a light meal.  For example last night I had 2 tostadas (much smaller than U.S. ones, about the size of a cookie) with tomatoes, ham, cilantro and lime on them as my 9pm "dinner." So far I love the food and it's all very healthy, not like Tex-mex.  I might try buying something very light for lunch every other day just so I can try different foods.  I did that today (had a crepe with ham and cheese and some green sauce) but that left me too full to eat much at 4pm for dinner so I need to get something smaller next time.  Que mas?

I really only speak Spanish here because NO ONE speaks English.  Well a few people will know some but in general no one speaks English, not even the professors.  This leaves me mostly quiet in conversation but I am getting better and better!  It's hard to strike up conversations with strangers but once I get over my initial fear I can communicate fine.  I'm better when I talk to people one on one because they talk slower to me.  Last night all of my dreams were in Spanish lol.  Guadalajara is very safe.  Everyone walks everywhere and I walk home from school alone.  Also, you have to show your I.D. to get on campus (even if you come by foot) and campus is gated in with security officers so it's probably safer than the U.S. campuses!  A lot of students walk to and from school too so I don't stand out and I blend in very well here so I don't even look like a foreigner.  About half of the people here have my coloring and most people don't know I'm from the U.S. until I start speaking.  Well, they don't even know if I ask them a simple question like "cuantos costos?" but if I try and hold a conversation with them then they know I'm not from Mexico.  I'm in class from 9am-3pm and I get a 20 min break and a 30 minute break.  I try and read my bible or walk around campus to explore.  Also, I'm no longer the only student in my classes! Oh before I start on that I'm in grammar level 3 out of 8.  I think that's what messed me up with meeting people because there are only 3 other people in that class (all old). I think I should have been higher but you need 8 points in each level to pass it and I got 7 points on each level until level 6 and they made me stay at level 3.  I should have reviewed more I guess because my class is too easy I think but the important thing is that I learn how to speak, I already know how to write or can look it up in a book if need be. Anyway the doctor and his wife are nice.  They look young but based on the fact that the doctor went into the army, then undergrad, then med school in Israel, then John Hopkins for his MPH then residency I think he must be in his mid-thirties.  The girl (Kelsey) from America isn't the most friendly but the Mexican girls that live here are.  They talk to me and ask me questions so I can practice my Spanish and explain things if I don't understand and talk slowly for me.  They're both 19 and very very nice and welcoming.  I have a field trip on Friday and I think I'll meet some American's then but there aren't very many though.  There are two options and I have to decide which one to go on. In the conversation class this morning only one other person showed up (there were supposed to be several my-aged Americans there) and she was from Korea.  But overall I am enjoying my classes, I guess it's good that my classes are small (the doctor is the only other person in my medical spanish and culture class) because that makes it more of a conversation with my professors and I get more practice with my Spanish.  I'm still not very good, but I definitely think I will be quite conversational by the time I leave.  I'm going to a kick-boxing class tonight with the Mexican girls I live with and I might try and sign up for a dance class too (its $5 for a month of classes twice a week).  It's been slow meeting people but I am enjoying myself and I already love the city.  I also am proud of myself for doing a lot on my own!  I've ordered a Taxi, asked for directions, ordered food, exchanged money, held a conversation with the manager of the on-campus bookstore (and bought a mug) ect all using my own Spanish.  Also, one thing that is very confusing is all the banks have the dollars to pesos exchange rate hanging on a giant sign in the window, but none of them exchange money!  I found the exchange house today though and exchanged $120.  It's a bit of a walk so I'd prefer to just exchange large amounts at once- but the exchange rate from pesos to dollars is less so I also want to make sure I don't exchange too much once I near the end of my trip.  I'm going to try and finish my TMDSAS essay tonight so check your email and get back to me by tomorrow afternoon please. Thanks and love you (everyone!!)

p.s. I took pictures but I'll send them via email later, I can send them on my phone but I got a text when I turned on my phone in Mexico and it said data messages are like $5 and I didn't want to risk having them charge us (although if the phone bill is high for some reason we can use my scholarship money to pay for it since I ended up getting $200 spending money from them)

Lauren

Quick update: I'm in Mexico!  The weather is gorgeous and the house I'm staying at is really nice.  Also, Guadalajara is not at all dangerous.  I walk home from school everyday by myself and feel very safe.  Everyone walks everywhere so I don't stand out and definitely don't feel like I'm going to be raped/robbed/kiddnapped. Also, for everyone who thinks I don't look Mexican, I blend in very well here!  About 30% of the people here have my coloring and facial features (hello look at my nose) so no one even realizes I'm a foreigner until I speak.  Also, no one speaks English- at all!  I live with 3 other Mexican girls who go to school at the UAG and none of them speak English so I'm getting lots of practice speaking.  One last thing because I'm out of time, uh I drink freshly squeezed juice everyday.  Papaya with lemon is my favorite although my morning oj is a close second.

The most precious thing in the world is feeling your god-daughter kick through your best friend's belly and watching her do ripples up and down it.  I am so blessed to have Alicia and Kenzlee in my life and so honored to be chosen as Kenzlee's god-mother.

México en la mañana.

Obsessively checking my MCAT scores when I know they're "tenatively" released at 4 pm today is not a good thing.  Especially with the enormous amount of work I must complete by Wednesday at 4:30 pm.  Blogging probably isn't good use of my time either.

Update

I leave for Mexico in just over a week!  I google mapped the address where I'll be staying and it made me really excited to go.  It's a cute little apartment in a nice part of town.  I'm not at all packed (not packed for Mexico or NE), my applications haven't been submitted, and this all needs to be done by Wednesay when my prego best friend comes into town for a visit. So I'm pretty stressed.  Stressed to the point where I have ezcema literally all over my body.  I haven't even gotten in a swimsuit but twice in the last month (4th of July!) it's so bad.  I finally made it to my dermatologist this morning to get on a steriod since it's only been getting worse for the last 3 weeks so hopefully it will be gone by the time I leave.  My last day of work is on Wednesday!  I am sad and glad to leave.  I worked A LOT this summer and had some awsome experience but obviously my body can't handle the stress and it will be nice to have a total of 2 days of summer before I leave since on my only day off I took the MCAT.  I wish I had more time to meet up with people but it looks like that isn’t going to happen.  If you want to hang out, call me because otherwise it is just not going to happen.  Um what else?  I don’t think I have any other real updates.  My life is work, then applications, then bible study, then bed so I can wake up and do it again.  There is an occasional trip to Target for Mexico essentials every now and again though. Oh Kyle left for the military!  That was exciting and sad.  His little brother Casey showed some unexpected emotion and that pretty much broke my heart.  This is probably my last post until sometime in late August (unless I decide to update in Mexico) so keep me in your prayers!

Weekend party for Kyle was a success!  I didn't take any pictures (how dumb!) but I do have pictures of the cookies I'll post sometime soon.  I'm at work (taking a break from endless transcriptions) so I'll end the post for now and update later (hopefully tonight, but y'all know how terrible I am at keeping my own deadlines).

Restrepo

I do not consider myself to be a film connoisseur or by any means versed in what makes a film great, meaningful, popular etc.  But.  I do have my opinions and while my favorite movies are generally limited to “feel good” classics like When Harry Met Sally, Steel Magnolias, or the always hilarious Just Friends and Nacho Libre, I’d like to suggest that you all see another.  Last night I saw the documentary Restrepo.  It was amazing.  I think every single American should watch it.  I had never even heard of it before I watched it so if you’re like me and way out of the loop (my life is incredibly boring and with each passing day I get less cool, and more clueless about pop culture) I’ll fill you in.  It’s a documentary following a group of soldiers as they are deployed in Korengal valley in Afghanistan for 15 months.  It’s very real, and very insightful.  From the reviews I’ve read a lot of critics think that there is a huge political agenda, and looking back I can kind of see it, but that’s definitely not why I recommend it.  I think the makers of the documentary wanted to highlight the pointlessness of the war.  I disagree and while watching it that's not the message I got (maybe that's because I almost never interpret art, film, music etc in terms of politics).  What I got out of it was a true understanding of what the military does for us and the selflessness it requires.  It makes me appreciate the men of the armed forces on a whole different level and watching it was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had.  Go watch it.  Now.

Am I crazy?

This summer for those of you who don't know I'll be studying abroad for 4 weeks in Guadalajara Mexico. I'll learn medical Spanish and volunteer in a health clinic practicing interacting with Spanish-speaking patients. I am absolutely ecstatic. Every single person I talk too (save 2 women I know from Guadalajara) says that I am crazy to go to Mexico while they're in the middle of a raging drug war. Maybe I have a false sense of security but I’m really just not worried when I think about going to Jalisco (the state I’ll be in) and how it borders Michoacán where three of the largest drug cartels are battling it out for control. I’m not worried when I read crime statistics or updated stories saying the drug war has spilled over into Jalisco in the northwest end. I’ve been reading news stories online published by a Mexican newspaper about all sorts of happenings in Jalisco and it doesn’t bother me to know that there have been 4 murders by four separate individuals within 2 days or that five women were murdered on the beach of Puerto Vallarta (where our study abroad program is taking us for a weekend trip…). Am I crazy? Maybe I’m not worried because I really feel like God wants me to take this trip and learn and grow and have amazing experiences that will help me in my future career. I want to eventually spend a significant amount of time in a third world or developing country administering healthcare and that’s pretty much what I’ll be doing come late July. All the doors have been opened, not closed so I feel secure in my decision to go. My entire trip is paid for (plus $200 in spending money!) thanks to the wonderful women of Cather Circle and I still get to work and intern at CCH for 10 weeks this summer. Then I read the following on the US Embassy website today (keep in mind I’ll be studying at the Universidad de Autonoma de Guadalajara)



Guadalajara: On the evening of April 16th around 10:30PM, an armed robbery occurred on board a first class bus line, Primera Plus, leaving Guadalajara en route to Puerto Vallarta. The assailants reportedly entered the bus as regular passengers at the Zapopan terminal and, thereafter, robbed everyone on the bus. On the evening of April 17th, a man was executed upon exiting a 7-11/Pemex station complex. The shooting occurred on a busy corner, Pablo Neruda and Patria, which is directly across the street from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, where many Americans study.



So am I crazy?



P.S. Amanda, don’t tell Dad because then he’ll never let me go.

I love my job. The more I work in public health the more I love it. Also, now that the MCAT is over I need to start studying for the GRE so I can apply for dual degree programs. Especially since grad school is my back up plan to med school anyway. If I don't get in I'll spend two years getting my MPH (masters of public health) and then re-apply. But hopefully that won't happen. My family is having a going away dinner for Kyle this Saturday. I'm sad + glad. I'm glad that Kyle and I are friends. I'm glad we're healing and that we didn't lose each other as friends. I'm glad that our my family still welcomes him, supports him, and cares for him (I can't say his family is as friendly with me, but let's not even go there). I'm glad for the new journey Kyle is embarking upon but I'm sad that Kyle is leaving. For those of you (probably most of you) that don’t know Kyle has signed with the armed forces and will be leaving for boot camp on July 11th of this year. He joined the army as a combat medic and will hopefully be a part of the air-born division. Kyle comes from a military family (he’s actually going to boot camp at the very same place his dad and grandfather went to, and where his grandfather was a drill sergeant) and the military has been a dream of Kyle’s that he’s finally fulfilling. I am so proud of Kyle and so incredibly happy that he’s finally in! If you know anything about Kyle you know that he’s an adrenaline junky, and that he’s extremely sacrificial (this also makes me very nervous because he would give up his life in a heartbeat to save someone else and I’m sorry but I’m selfish and don’t want Kyle to die. I’m jumping ahead I know), even to complete strangers, so the military is the perfect fit for him and being a medic fits in with his firefighting career (in addition to fighting fires they run EMS calls and most have their paramedic license). So I am very sad and very glad. My mom and I are making some awesome military cookies for him though and I’ll post pictures once they’re completed.


One last thing, hop on over to my good friend Katherine’s blog. Even though her taste is a bit different than mine I wish she could be my personal stylist/shopper because maybe then I’d look less like a bum. (I’m insanely jealous of people who think up these awesome outfits/hairstyles/etc and know exactly what should go with what. I’m not completely clueless, but mostly I just copy what everyone else is wearing).

MCAT: Completed

My MCAT is over (PTL)!  Except I'll probably have to take it again, so after this weekend I'm hitting the books again. BUT, now I can shift my focus to med school applications and prepping for Mexico.  My scholarship check came in the mail so a trip to the bank is in order followed by a phone call to San Antonio to complete payment for my trip!  Scrubs are bought, next on my list is a passport wallet (I'm leaning towards this one), cheap shoes to wear in the clinic (no vomit, urine, feces etc on my nikes please), and super comfy + cute (that last one is the difficult part) shoes I can walk around town in.  What else is new?  I got my first (of the summer) paycheck from CCH!  Trying to save 50%, tithe 12% and put aside $100 for Mexico each paycheck and not spend the rest as soon as I get it.  I guess it's good I no longer have time for shopping.  Father's day is tomorrow!  I'd leave you with a pic, but I'm not using my computer so I don't have any, maybe next time.

MCAT

MCAT tomorrow at 8 am.  I am kind of freaking out.  But this quote by John Piper is helping to calm my nerves.

"All true blessings come from His grace, not our labor."

I love it because it could not be more true.
Prayers, and more prayers, and then even more prayers are needed and welcome for both tonight and tomorrow.  Thanks to everyone who reads this and I'll be updating more after tomorrow.

OK. I'm done complaining now that it's out of my system.

Weekend in 5, or maybe 7...

1. Gin's party was super fun.  One of the best nights had with Aimee and Gin and I loved spending time with them before the summer because they're graduated and will be living in Omaha from now on.

Aimee, Virginia, me. See that plastic deal on Gin's finger? It's a giant ring shot glass! haha

2. Waking up after 4 hours of sleep and drinking the night before was NOT fun.  However the drive to Iowa was quick and the scenery was gorgeous.  Iowa is very hilly and this makes the drive east much prettier than heading west through good ol' Nebraska.

3. Hill and I have been friends for over a decade and it was absolutely wonderful to see her graduate (1st generation!).  She was given an award (Undergraduate Presidential Award, or something like that) and asked to give a speech at the graduation.  Everyone cried.

William Penn University had a gorgeous campus!

4. Iowa was also a great because I got to spend lots of time with her family.  Hill and I have grown up together in every sense and I love that her family embraces me as one of their own (as mine does to Hill).  This was the first time since John (her dad) died that I've seen Hill, her mom, and sister be truly happy and content together. Praise.

Me with my second momma. Hill looks just like her, and they're both gorgeous!

5. Sleep in Iowa was slim as well.  Lots of staying out seeing the tiny town of Oskaloosa, Iowa, going to graduation parties, friends sleeping on the couch and snoring much too loudly, and waking up at 3am and again at 8am to move Aubree (Hill's younger sister) out left me beyond tired.

6. I stopped in Omaha on my way back to Lincoln to have dinner with my roommate's family and spend time with them before leaving for summer.  This was awesome because I got to hear how Aimee moved an entire couch out of our apt, into her SUV, and then home without a single person helping (oh Aimes!) and then watch Sister Wives on TLC with her momma.  Me and her momma just get each other.

7. Finding old friends on facebook is amazing.  It's even more amazing when you find out God changed their heart and their life and they're now your sister in Christ.  I cannot wait to reconnect with my old friend when I get back to Mansfield.

Can you tell my favorite color is coral?

I cried

Yes, today marks the first time I've cried over my grades.  I went into my P.Chem final with an A/A- and came out with possibly a C.  44% of your grade being a cumulative final is just too much.  And I didn't make the 94 I needed to get an A.  I guess I was just angry and upset because after an entire semester of working my butt off to improve on every single test grade (which I did!!) and get an A went right out the window after I turned my test in.  I cried walking to the bookstore after my test to sell back my book.  I cried more when they only offered me $25 for it (I bought it new for $180!), an amount which I readily denied.  I cried while waiting for my 'script at the pharmacy.  Good thing I decided to wear a cap and sunglasses today.  I guess I'm all out of tears now, which is good.  I've never cried over grades before and I'd rather not again.  Also, I am so dreading stopping by my BIOC 434 prof's office to pick up my paper grade because I really don't  think I can handle any more bad news.... on the other hand it could be really good news I suppose.
Time to shop for a gift for Gin's party tonight, clean, and pack for IOWA!!  I will now be adopting my usual finals week attitude of "I don't care what my grades are because it always works out in the end!"
I better have made an A in Spanish though because A-'s are the worst...

One more final (7:30 am, gross).
Shopping (not fun shopping, shopping for cleaning supplies)
A bachelorette party in Omaha.
Trip to Iowa for Hill's graduation.
Packing.
Moving.
Cleaning.
HOME.
I'm ready do be home, despite the fun things in-between now and then.

I felt like this topic deserved it's own post.
Today I rejoice in the lives that will be saved as a result of bin Ladin's death, however I mourn the soul that was lost.  As a follower of Christ I couldn't help but cringe when I heard the news to know that another soul will spend eternity in a lake of fire with weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

Also, there was a lot I didn't like about Obama's announcement but I did love the end when he said America is not fighting a war against Islam and especially when he said "One nation under God" and God Bless America.

I wish this was my last finals week.

I currently have one grade in my biochem 435 class (advanced topics in biochemistry).  Just one.  All semester long we've been reading and discussing published biochemistry papers on the crystal structures of various proteins and relating structure to biological function.  Attendance and participation are required, but don't actually account for any points (?).  In April we switched from discussing to watching presentations on our self-chosen research topic.  I presented last Monday (4/25) and found out this weekend I got an A on my presentation.  Almost an A+ even.  Awesome!!  And now the rest of my life (only a slight exaggeration) depends on my final paper, which is worth anywhere from 50-80% of my grade.  I hope Dr. Wilson goes easy on me...
I really REALLY want a 4.0 this semester, something which has eluded me in all of my past 7 semesters.  I've come close, but never hit the mark.  I think I can do it, but so far I only have 1 definite A (biochem 433, which is a 2 hr lab).  In Spanish Lit I'm sitting at a solid A- that can be brought up provided I get an A on the final and an A on my final paper (already turned in).  P. Chem is going to be the toughy.  I'm at an A right now, but the comprehensive final is worth 44% of my grade.  Stressful finals week.  Bored reading about classes you're not taking and school stuff you don't care about? OK, well I'm done.

A more exciting post is in the works.

baby seesters.

I love it when my baby sister texts me about getting asked to prom and boys, even though she's supposed to be paying attention and not texting in class.  Let me explain.  Having sisters that are 6 and 8 years younger than you can make it difficult to develop a really close relationship.  When you're in high school, they're still in elementary school and you really don't talk to them about "personal" stuff or care about what's going on in they're lives because they're playing tag and riding bikes and you're studying for AP exams and going on dates.  Because I chose to go to a college out of state and 700 miles away from home this also made it difficult to foster a relationship with my younger siblings because they were starting to like boys, wear make up and hitting puberty all while I was gone.  I remember coming home at Thanksgiving during my freshman year of college and not even recognizing Rachel (then 12) because she had grown 2 inches and lost all her baby fat (she used to be a big chunky...).  Anyway the point of this story is to say that my little sisters are growing up without me.  Getting boyfriends, making the cheerleading team (no more crazy drill team for our family!), winning basketball games etc.. So I get extra excited when they choose to share they're lives with me.  I like that my two younger sisters are becoming more open with me, telling me about boys and drama they deal with in high school and asking for my advice.  Advice which I will gladly give (even when they don't want it...) because I've made enough mistakes that someone should benefit from what I learned!

Also, in regards to my jcrew shopping.  I finally checked out with not 4, but 5 items in my shopping cart.... I couldn't resist!  Especially because I got my tax return yesterday.... Anyway I got 2 dresses, 2 tanks (one cotton, one blouse), and a necklace so I'm happy.

Tyring to decide whether I should just check out or empty 3 of the 4 items in my jcrew shopping cart right now.  I love jcrew, but I'm a student who's about to drop somewhere around $2000 on applications/MCAT for medical schools.  I guess I just answered my own question...

I really enjoyed the reading of the word by candle light and somber worship last night at Christ's Place in south Lincoln.  Pastor Rick reminded us not only of what Christ did for us, but what we did to Christ.

There's nothing like calling your ex-boyfriend to figure out the answer to a security question you made for a summer school account when y'all were still together.  Needless to say I'm locked out of "mymav" because I failed to answer my security questions correctly.  This means I can't request a transcript, and if I want to reset my expired password (which they notified by via my UTA email that I never check...) then I need to stop by the Help Desk (wherever that is...) and show them a picture of my student ID (which I never got...) in order to be able to reset my password.  Lovely.

Freaking out about the MCAT.
I'm going to ignore the fact that it's quickly approaching and I need to make a decision on when I'm going to take it and register.  Instead I'm going to continue researching the PDZ (substrate) binding domain of the E6 protein of HPV-18 that inhibits tumor suppressor proteins in somatic cells.  Why am I doing my thesis on MOFs in chemistry when I love all my biochem 435 research so much more? Oh yeah, because I'm getting paid to...
Tonight I'm just trying to remember I Chronicles 28:20 to keep my stress in check and James 1:27 to remember why the stress of pursuing medicine/public health will be worth it.

Applying to medical school = overwhelming.
it would have been nice to go to a school that didn't just prepare you to apply to one school (UNMC) especially since I would rather become a P.A. then spend another 4 years in Nebraska.  I love UNL, but Nebraska is so vanilla that once I leave, I could never return for more than a short visit.

MOFs are starting to kill me...

A glass of Chardonnay.
Maroon 5.
OPI's "Pinking of You." (my new favorite sheer pink)
Thesis?
If only the last part was done...
Here's the very first part of my introduction if you feel like reading it.  You'll probably read the first two sentences and then be bored to tears because you don't care about metal organic frameworks (MOFs)...  If I have any chemistry, or biochem majors reading my blog, you might enjoy it!

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) can be defined as a type of crystalline hybrid material that have a crystal structure which is comprised of an extended network of metal ions or small clusters connected through rigid organic spacers, known as the coordinating ligands (1-2).  When MOFs are organized into three dimensional structures, the building units coordinate together allowing for a regular pattern and therefore a network of uniform pores and channels within the framework (1).  This porous characteristic is the basis of interest in MOFs today because the available free space can be occupied by host molecules at an extremely high rate (up to 90% of the crystal volume in some cases) (1).  Such porosity of the MOF can be manipulated through the choice of organic linkers and metal coordination geometry (1).  The organic building blocks from which MOFs are constructed allow for the synthesis of an infinite number of new materials with diversity in structure and porosity (4).  Because MOFs offer the ability to absorb or store host molecules and the flexibility to accommodate different molecules through calculated manipulation, they are ideal units with which to address key applications such as hydrogen storage, enhanced catalysis, chemical/molecular sensors, drug delivery, and gas purification/gas separation to name a few (3).

One metal organic framework of particular interest is the porphyrin unit.  The porphyrin unit is considered to be quite useful because it is a rigid metalloligand that offers an additional approach to control the structure of a MOF (5).  Porphyrin based linkers are set apart from other metalloligands in that the cavity inside the porphyrin is able to adopt a variety of metal elements allowing  for additional coordination capacity with which to manipulate framework topology (6-7).  This characteristic also provides the porphyrin with the ability to self-assemble into framework architectures without relying on external connectors (8).  Another important feature of porphyrin molecules is that they contain a rigid square-planar geometry with multiple molecular recognition sites ideal for metal coordination (or hydrogen bonding) and thus contain an extensive supramolecular chemistry (8).  The specific porphyrin molecule used throughout this study is meso-tetra(carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP).

(late) Update

My entire post got deleted.  And now I don't fee like updating.
Is that how today's going to be?
Because if so I might as well drive over to Trader Joe's now and buy some wine instead of waiting till tonight.

*Small shout out to Kandice because it's her 22nd birthday!  You'll get a better shout out once I drink some wine.

Today will be busy.
I have a University Health Center Governing board meeting
an on camera interview to promote minorities in undergraduate research (for UCARE)
and a founders day dinner for a good friend's fraternity.
And it's pouring rain.
with possible snow tonight (isn't it mid april!?)
Lovely.

Oh did I mention I'm so ready to be out of this gosh darn place called Lincoln, Nebraska?
because I am...

ah. More to come, expect this post to be updated by the end of the day.

wordless wednesday: seesters

My title is deceiving today.  This post started out wordless, but I love captions too much not to use words.  So here's the family version of my spring break trip.  Also, one honorary seester and one real brother are included in this one.

Crossing the state line from east OK, on our drive back from AK where I picked up Sar from U of Ark.

Picnic at Lady Bird Johnson Lake in Austin, Texas

What!? Awesome.

Barton Springs in Austin

Sar with her "dream body" haha!

and by dream body I mean all of Kyle's guy friends and some of mine are always talking about (slash stalking on facebook) her "dream" body, and they frequently ask "So does your sis still have that rockin bod?" (no lies, those exact words...) to which I reply, yes but it's not for you.

I don't remember where this was taken, somewhere on or between South Congress Ave & 6th St in Austin.  They have guitars all made by the same artist all over the downtown area.

Out in Dallas introducing my other long lost seester to vodka tonics with lemon.

Real life.

Fake life.

Real life. And my favorite pic of the trip.  The other Sarah is an honorary seester because she's a fellow Mexi-Texi who went to UNL and I love her.  I may have to dedicate a post to my favorite Mexi-Texi's soon...

Seester + new brother

I never knew I'd end up loving Nate so much.

The.

End.

new hur.

Alicia reminded me last night of why we're friends.  I called her last night at 1am her time, all upset about, well something I should be upset about, but was trying to force myself not to be.  And she listened, and made me laugh, and gave me an update on the sweet little baby growing inside her.
Also, I FINALLY got my hair cut!  I was not too thrilled with my last cut, and I haven't gotten it cut since, oh say June of 2010!  I was in desperate need of a new do.  Thanks to Ladena at Estella A Salon, I love my new hair.  I would highly recommend her to anyone in the Lincoln/Omaha area.  She did a great job, washed, cut, and styled my hair (I love it when they style it out for you). And she only took off 2 inches, which is pretty darn good for going so long without a haircut and my hair is still down to the middle of my back so I'm happy.  She  also gave me a deep conditioning treatment that made my hair feel like silk. I am in love.  I need to get it deep conditioned more often.  Thanks to groupon, I got it all for $20.  Awesome!  OK I'm done being overly excited about my "pampering" which is actually something I should do every 6-8 weeks like a normal person.

BIG news.

Remember my best friend Alicia?  We grew up in Mansfield together and did gym together for about 5 years. Although we always went to rival schools, we were inseparable during the summer and my fondest summertime memories were always with her.  Now we live thousands of miles apart, have been friends for over 10 years, and keep in touch less often, but our friendship has only grown stronger.  She was married in October and I can now finally announce the good news... SHE'S PREGNANT!!  I could not be happier!  When she called and told me the news I started screaming and crying I was so overjoyed and she's the one who had to tell me to chill out haha!  The last few years and even the last few months have been very difficult for Alicia and I am absolutely thrilled that she is finally in a place in her life where things are going well, and joy has replaced heartache.  I am also very excited that her baby is due right around the time of my fall break next semester so you'd better believe another trip to D.C. is in order!  Either I'll see her so pregnant she can hardly stand it, I'll see the birth of her beautiful baby, or I'll visit the little newborn.  I am so excited.  I feel so incredibly blessed by my friendship with Alicia and I am so thankful to be a real part of her life despite our distance.  Please keep Alicia and her growing baby in your prayers.

Alicia and I right after I gave my speech at her wedding.  I love that this moment was captured on camera.

Now he's not my favorite, but I'm starting to like Donald Trump. (what!?)
Don't read too much into my above statement, but maybe he's smarter than I thought.

Oh, and you're welcome for the absence of an overly personal post about my skin.

Good news/Bad news?

but not the BIG news.
My hives are gone!  After jumping in the shower to wash off my skin (and hopefully whatever was causing the hives) I took an oatmeal bath and my hives were gone within a couple of hours.
Bad news.
My hives came back again today.  They arrived once again right after working out.  I'm assuming my skin is reacting to my sweat (!?) because I had NOTHING on my skin this morning when I worked out.  No lotion. No perfumes, nothing!  How is it that I've been sweating my whole dang life and now my skin wants to act like it's allergic to it?  No time for an oatmeal bath before class so I had to wear jeans and a fleece to cover my arms and legs (so everyone in my classes wouldn't be like, completely freaked out by my hyperactive basophiles) in this beautiful 65 degree weather.  Perfect.  Well now I'm in some track shorts and a white v-neck and I'm going to lay my hive covered body in the sun while I write my thesis.  At least the sun will get rid of the eczema (because why yes I still have that too!).  I hate my overly "delicate" skin.
Also, my new workout is kicking my butt.  As in I can't even walk up the 3 flights of stairs to get to my apt or sit down without seriously struggling.  Now everyone in the elevator gets to look at me like I'm a big lazy for riding up to floor 3.
Time for SUN!

April 5, 2011

I am so tired of being tired.

I'm tired of not being able to fall asleep at night.

I'm tired of breaking out in eczema like it's nobody's business.

I'm tired of breaking out in hives all over my body for no apparent reason (which happened to me today during my 5 minute (!) phone conversation with my mom, because I guess that's how long it takes for hives to develop in mass quantities..?).

Sorry for the complaints.  It's been a difficult 6 months week.

Finally going to go see the doctor on Thursday.  Hopefully something can be done about the insane reaction my body is having to all this (prolonged) stress.

BIG NEWS COMING SOON!

stop by later this week to find out what it is.

March 28, 2011

Remember this post?  Well ignore the text and focus on the pictures.  I always wanted to get married there.  Well not always, but for the last 2 years and since I've been "old enough" to seriously consider marriage.  Now this beautiful grassy green lawn in the middle of the cultural district of Fort Worth, is gone.  Absolutely gone!  I didn't visit this spot over Christmas, but when I came home for spring break to show my roomies around FTW, it was gone.  It's a giant hole.  With bulldozers, and orange tape, and construction workers.  Alas, another reminder that almost nothing in my life is the same anymore.  I loved siting on the lawn in the unbelievable Texas summer heat on my lunch breaks at CCH.

p.s. it's snowing in Nebraska and it sucks, especially when you leave the house at 9am in sperry's and walk home at 7:30 am in wet snow.  At least I don't think it's sticking anymore...

Recap?

I am back from my spring break.  I left the great state of Texas and nearly all I hold dear behind to finish these last few weeks up in Lincoln.  May 6th can not come fast enough (or slow enough so I can finish my thesis, and prep for the MCAT and GRE).  Lincoln has really grown on me and I do love UNL, but I am so ready to be done.  This year has been harder than I ever imagined and I'm tired of dealing with it all.  I know I should have some wonderful post about how awesome my spring break was (which it was) but truthfully I don't feel like it.  And I'm always one to tell it like it is, and say how I feel.  I feel like it was unusually hard to leave Texas.  And I feel like the trip was bitter sweet.  And I feel like I'm not ready to face my responsibilities or the stress that goes along with them.  Truth be told, I'm tired.

5 Things

1. break-up + the flu = a lot of weight lost!  Which is great because, well let's be honest, it's less work for me.  I still have some (serious) toning to do but at least I'm on my way, and less of a chunky.  Also, I know sizes don't really matter, but it's a great feeling when things that used to fit, don't anymore because they're too big.

2. I shadowed a physician at the health center today.  It was fun!  He went to TX Tech (gross!) for his undergrad and then went to medical school at UT-Houston.  And he grew up in Allen, TX.  I still love meeting Texans in Nebraska because I feel like NE is such a random state to end up in that I like learning people's back story and what brought them here.  I wonder if my friend who set up the shadowings paired us together on purpose...

3. Y'all know I love all things ridiculous.  Well, have you seen this yet?  It's absolutely ridiculous.  It kind of made my day when I saw it, and then ruined it because it would not get out of my head.  Still, hilarious.

4. I bought my brother-in-law the perfect birthday gift today.  I love finding the right gifts for people, and I love watching them react when they open it.  I'm very excited to see my family this weekend and to celebrate Nate and my baby(est) sister Emma's birthday with them.


5. Almost time for my p.chem exam!

March 15, 2011

This week is killing me.  And I look like a big dork in my passport photo.  I really want to pay the $6 and get another one, but probably won't for fear it will be the same woman taking my photo and she'll think I'm weird, or call me out on it... haha.

Other news... I like Greek yogurt!  This is a very big deal because I have always hated yogurt.  Something about the tangy yogurt-y taste just makes me want to vomit.  But yogurt is SO good for you so every few months I wander by the yogurt aisle and pick out a delicious sounding flavor only to be disappointed and give my opened yogurt to my roommate to finish.  Now, I can enjoy all the health benefits of yogurt without the yuck-o taste.

Time to study more physical chemistry!  Worst part about it is that it's all conceptual.  None of this memorizing equations and plugging in numbers nonsense the other p.chem classes get to do.  No.  It's deriving equation upon equation based on relationships based on intrinsic definitions of variables that include just about every letter of the Greek alphabet.  I. hate. this.
Spring Break soon?

p.s. Thanks to all my readers from Austin (there are quite a few! or one person who obsessively checks my page...) for NOT giving me suggestions on where to go while I'm there next week... (sorry I'm cranky due to hours of studying for p.chem and a load of other stuff I need to get done)  I suppose it's probably because I don't talk to anyone that I know who lives in Austin... but I'd still love to hear from you!  Or if any of my other readers have visited and know of fun places please let me know!  I love visiting the less touristy places and going to hole-in-the-wall places so input would be appreciated.

C.C. & GALLUP

Cather Circle was awesome!! And I was awarded a $2500 scholarship to go to Mexico this summer!  I applied for this study abroad/internship scholarship back in February and found out Friday afternoon that I got it!.  And I was awarded the full amount!  This is so awesome because the scholarship will cover the entire cost of the trip, including airfare!  Lots of exclamation points I know, but I'm seriously excited :)
For those of you non-nebraskans (or maybe you went to UNL but still don't know) who don't know, Cather Circle is a womens alumni organization that pairs successful alums with undergraduate students for mentoring.  I love being a part of Cather Circle because it is so empowering to be around wonderful, well-established, professional women!  They are so encouraging and helpful (both professionally and personally).  We have a 2 day meeting (kind of like a conference) once in the fall and once in the spring.  This year's spring meeting was so much fun and we were able to take the GALLUP StregnthsFinder test, which is awesome because normally the type of assessment we received costs around $750.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with GALLUP it's somewhat similar to a personality test (which I love).  It's used a lot in the corporate world to figure out and maximize a company's (and the individuals within the company) strengths in order to achieve more.  It has 34 themes and after completing the assessment you find out your top 5.  Mine were pretty much spot on, and they're mentioned below with a brief description of each.

1. Significance- you want to be very significant in the eyes of other people, you want to be known and appreciated for the unique strengths you bring.  your life is filled with goals and achievements that you crave.  you want your work to be a way of life rather than a job.  you want your life to be meaningful and impact others.

2. Achiever- you have a constant need for achievement.  you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself.  you have an internal fire pushing you to do more and achieve more, though your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. an achiever must learn to live with a whisper of discontent for as soon as one achievement is completed the internal fire will force you on to the next accomplishment.

3. Belief- you have certain core values that are enduring.  belief theme causes you to be altruistic, family oriented, even spiritual, and to value responsibility, and high ethics- both in yourself and others.  your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you.  you're friends call you dependable, and your belief makes you easy to trust.  it also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you.

4. Focus- you need a clear destination.  lacking one, your life and your work can quickly become frustrating.  each year, month, and even each week you set goals (soo true!).  these goals then serve as your compass.  focus is powerful because it forces you to filter and prioritize. focus causes you to be efficient however it also causes you to become impatient with delays, obstacles, and even tangents.

5. Individualization- you instinctively observe each person's style, motivation, how each things and how each builds relationships.  this theme explains why you pick your friends just the right birthday gift.  because you are a keen observer of other people's strengths, you can draw out the best in each person.

I really think that my themes describe me perfectly.  Especially since I feel like the first 4 pretty much sum up my life.  I am always thinking about my goals, life aspirations, and how to make my life meaningful as well as how I am going to get there.  These things consume my thoughts on a daily basis.
I really loved the presentation that went along with our StrengthsFinder assessment because the Gallup representative talked about how to use our strengths to succeed.  She gave us a quote during her presentation that I really like, and though I can't remember the exact words it went something along the lines of "working to  improve upon your weaknesses will only bring them to a state of mediocrity at best.  working to improve upon your strengths will allow you to excel in ways you never thought possible, taking your natural abilities from good to amazing."  I really liked that because I think all to often we focus on what we're doing wrong and how we need to improve upon it when instead we need to be focusing on what we do well.  Sure there are things we could improve on, but instead of focusing on how we are weak in certain areas we should be focusing on how using our strengths can get us to the same ultimate goal.  Maybe later this week (if I have time) I'll post a two sentence description of each of the 34 themes and you can think about which 5 you might be.

Bad Project.

A friend shared this with me today and it was so good I just had to pass it along.  Science majors will get this.  If you've ever worked in a lab, you will get this (though I'm not sure any of my readers do/have...).  Let me explain my situation first.  I've worked in Dr. Choe's inorganic chemistry lab for just shy of 4 years.  Everyone in my lab (save one male PHD student) is Asian and speaks Korean and/or Vietnamese (if you pay any attention to the extra's in this video and make it halfway through the lyrics you'll understand why this information is relevant).  In my 4 years I have worked on 4 different systems.  All failed projects, two of which were passed on to me from other undergrad/grad students that left the lab.  Also, this video is just hilarious to me because most lab workers are awkward as all get out.  They aren't very social and the idea of any of the lovely but awkward lab members I work with partaking in a video like this is just hilarious to me.  I wish I had more science-y friends to appreciate this video like some of you English/business etc majors can't.  That being said I don't have a single science-major friend who blogs- interesting because I definitely think it takes a certain personality to maintain a blog and a certain personality to maintain a well read blog (one that bloggers actually want to read), one that I obviously don't have. Anyway.  The video.

Continuing with my previous post...

About 20 seconds after I submitted my last post a dear friend of mine poked her head into my room and said very excitedly, "I have your wedding invitation!"  She returned a moment later and placed the crisp decorated envelope on my desk and just looked at me waiting for me to share in her excitement.  And that's exactly what God wanted.  I've been struggling a lot lately with finding a balance between allowing myself to feel sad/upset about the happenings of the last few months (which lie deeper than the few aspects I've shared with y'all) and not feeling like I'm wallowing in self pity and indulging in unproductive emotions.  It's been difficult because I can't hide my emotions, and I can't hold things in.  When I try to bury my feelings and  not experience them it drives me crazy and then I explode into a giant puddle of intense emotions that no one can handle (not even myself).  I like to identify what's bothering me, dealing with/experiencing the accompanying emotion (anger, jealousy, hurt etc), and moving on.  Tying this back to my story, Virginia dropped off this beautiful wedding invitation that she was absolutely thrilled to give me and it was the perfect opportunity for me to not be upset.  I felt like it was God's way of saying here's some balance.  You've allowed yourself to get upset, to feel sad, to write about it, and now it's time to move on.  And so I did.  While to many of you this probably seems like a very trivial accomplishment, it was one I was very happy to make.

March 8, 2011

Days like today are hard.  Days where it seems as though everyone is getting engaged or expecting.  I look at other people's happiness and can't help but think "that could have been me..."  Even though I know this isn't true, even though I know God has other plans for me.  It's still hard.  Because I did love Kyle, and I still love Kyle, and I think I will always love Kyle.  Because for the last 3.5 years my entire future revolved around me and Kyle.  And within a year I'll be in Texas permanently (and it would have been sooner if we were still together) and I'll face the reality of a life I'll never have.  It's hard because we didn't break up over some dramatic issue, or because "things weren't working out" or because we no longer wanted to be together.  No.  It's hard because I was called in a different direction.  We were being called in different directions.  And God was saying, I have other plans for you, trust that my plans are better than your own.  And so I sit here sad, and trying to trust.  And still learning how to let go of my own plans that I made for myself.  And still learning how to accept that what I thought were God's plans for my life, are not.  And trying to move on with less tears and less heartache than yesterday.  So happy news is still bittersweet to me.  I will smile and say "Congratulations!"  And I will mean it, but I will still be letting go of the past and trying to believe in a future.  I know that this was the right decision, and I know that God's new plans for my life will be infinitely better than anything I could possibly plan for myself.  But sometimes the wound of a broken relationship is ripped open again and I have to deal with the pain, and wrap it back up before continuing on.

Better late than never?

A tribute to my one and only older sister, Amanda.  I was looking back at my old post (too lazy to post the link..) and couldn't believe I didn't post some pictures to go with my appreciation, so I am now.  Enjoy.

And my mom wonders why everyone asked if I was a boy...

This one is one of my favorites.  Our facial expressions crack me up.

Look at that blond blond hair.  No mexi here.

My parent's say that right after they took this picture I bit her.

Typical.

Alabama 07

The night before her wedding.

Love you seester.

RHOC

Real Housewives of Orange Country.
Premier in t-minus 6 minutes.  I can hardly contain my excitement!!
Yes I have an obsession with all thing ridiculous and with Bravo.  I can't help it.

Sometimes it's good to remind yourself of what you're not missing.

After sleeping for 20 hours a day the last three days and surviving solely on Gatorade and crackers I have re-emerged!  I have beaten the flu.  I can finally return to classes as usual.  Except I'm still skipping my 9:30 am biochem class because we have no tests and I have a doctors letter saying I don't have to go.  I do want to go to my other classes though so I don't get more behind than I already am.  Ahhh I hate playing catch up.  And I'm exhausted.  I slept till 12pm today, then took a nap at 3 and now I feel like I'm up way past my bed time because I'm exhausted.  Also, my lack of food intake has me weak as all get out.  Time for bed.  Oh wait, except that I still have one more p.chem hw problem to do :(

the flu is slowly but surely killing me.
on to hour 19 of sleep in the last 24 hrs.

I am so thankful for my sisters.  It's not everyday that God blesses someone with 4 built in friends who will always be there for you until the day you die.  I've always thought I've been so incredibly blessed to have an abundance of sisters, but today I am especially thankful for Amanda.  Our relationship has changed drastically in the last 5 years.  Amanda and I are very different from one another and that made growing up together and getting along extremely difficult.  Couple that with always feeling like Amanda was the "favorite" and you have a volatile situation.  We didn't naturally get along like we did with my other sisters.  All of that changed once we didn't live together.  We always lived in the same building while at college but never together and I think that has made all the difference. I won't go into the ups and downs of our relationship but 5 years ago I would never call her crying, never seek her advice, never confide in her or call her just to talk.  Now we do all of that.  And I have never been more thankful to have her in my life than I am today.

I deleted my last post because I was terribly cranky when I wrote it and it was not fun to read.  Actually most of my stuff on here is not fun to read.  We'll see if I can fix that, probably not though.
I'm trying to be less of a crank pot today.

Watching Friday Night Lights makes me want to never have children.  It is one of the few shows that actually portrays high school kids as high school kids.  They don't act like rich 20-somethings with little or no parental guidance.  They actually act like teenagers.  They're selfish and stupid and have the worst attitudes.  I seriously don't think that I could ever handle that on a daily basis.  Reason 485 why I no longer want children.
Also, I have to take the GRE in addition to the MCAT if I want to do a dual program for MD/MPH, which I do.  But this sucks.  My advisor told me not to study for it because it's basically just like the ACT and science majors don't usually have any problems with it (we're already updated on our math skills unlike most English/art majors).  We'll see.  Let's add that to the list.  My list is getting way to long...

Praying for my cousin Greg. He is vacationing in New Zealand and since the earthquake no one has been able to contact him. I'm praying and hoping that the distance is making communication difficult, and not something worse..

You Don't Own Me

This is me and my roommates.  It's our theme song.  Yes you can laugh at my ridiculousness.

I love the First Wives Club!

And even more good news

Everything is falling into place.
My week has continued to be wonderful and I am itching to tell everyone the wonderful news I heard about on Sunday which was only made better by more news I learned about Tuesday.  However, I must wait.
I can tell y'all that I am officially interning at the Center for Community Health at UNT Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth this summer.  I could not be happier.  If you remember any of my summer posts from last year you already know that I love working there and my boss Dr. Cardarelli has taken me under her wing and been a real mentor to me.  It is because of her and my time at CCH that I am officially pursuing my MD/MPH!  MPH is a masters of public health.  Most Texas schools offer the degree in conjunction with an MD with no additional years tacked on to my schooling!  Which is the best part about this program.  I can get both in 4 years.
Oh and I submitted my down deposit for my trip to Mexico this summer.  Yes!  If everything goes as planned I will be spending 4 weeks in Mexico in late July, early August learning medical Spanish, taking culture classes, oh and doing clinicals in health clinics around Guadalajara!
I am so blessed and continue to be amazed at all the wonderful opportunities God has placed in front of me.

p.s. My best friend Ben from back home also laid some great news on me yesterday.  This week has been a constant high.

Feb. 15, 2011

The last three days have been awesome.  Mostly because I found out some really exciting news that literally made me burst into tears of happiness!!  I'm not ready to share the news with y'all quite yet but as soon as I am I will.
I was able to talk to my very best friend Alicia who lives in MD just outside of D.C. which was wonderful because it's hard to keep in touch with her sometimes but we always pick up right where we left off.
Also, I finished my scholarship application to help fund my trip to Mexico this summer so it's all turned in and ready.  I really hope I get it, but there's not a lot of money to hand out with this one and it's pretty competitive.
I spent all day Sunday with my best friend Katelin and I know this might sound weird but we haven't gotten alone time in a while so it was so nice to spend all day with just her shopping, eating, and enjoying each other.  We're always surrounded by our mutual friends, which is wonderful, but not when have some heavy stuff we want to talk about and sift through so it was nice to have a chance to do that.
Last bit of news that has made the last few days great was that I aced my Spanish test!  I've been worried about it because it's all literary jargon that is difficult for me to get into but my dad was right in that I just always doubt my abilities to succeed.  No more because even though I haven't gotten the grade back, I know I aced it.
Umm I think that's all for the update on my boring life.
Oh, one last thing.  It never fails that something unbelievably awkward happens every Valentine's day for me and I don't know what to say or how to react.  Well this year was no different...

Feb. 10, 2011

Wow, lots of posts lately!
I just finished writing my paper for my Spanish lit class and I am so glad it's over with!  I remember writing papers all the time in high school dissecting the literary elements of authors, unveiling the underlining meaning of passages, and discussing "themes."  Well now I have to do it for Spanish. I don't remember it being this hard.  I always got A's in English and aced the AP tests (allowing me to forgo this torture in college.. or so I thought) but now I am realllly out of practice.   Man, reading Spanish stories and writing in Spanish is hard!  I shouldn't be complaining because my paper was only 1 page single spaced, but I hate this kind of stuff.  Not the Spanish, just the analyzing literature part.  Last semester I took a course on the history and culture of Spain and I hated it.  I loved my professor but hated the course.  It was basically a history class taught completely in Spanish where I wrote 15+ page papers.  So this semester I thought to myself, instead of going through that torture again I'll just take a lit class instead.  Wrong.  At least my professor this semester is easy (she's from Georgia...).  Now my sister Amanda is proofing my paper like the saint that she is.  She was always 100x better at Spanish than me.  I keep trying to force myself to become fluent but I'm just not so sure that my brain works that way...
Um in other news...
Oh wait there is none because my life revolves around school and work, and my other work, oh and sometimes my 3rd place of work...
I guess there's some exciting news.  My saint of a sister works for the wonderful Hyatt hotel in Dallas and I am loving that right now because she's getting me a few nights in Austin over spring break for a measly price of $39 a night.
Yes I am going to road trip around my home state for spring break.  I've been told that's lame by several Nebraska boys but I think it'd only be boring if you lived in Nebraska.  I've road tripped right on through this state (via I80) and there's nothing.  The most exciting thing that's not in Lincoln or Omaha is the apple orchards in Nebraska City.  Anyway I'm bringing my roommates down with me and they've never been to Fort Worth/Dallas or Austin or any Texas beach so those will be our stops and they're super excited :)  The last time I went to Austin was in middle school so I'm pretty excited as well.  Since I have a ton of readers from Austin, ya'll be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what we should be sure not to miss!
*hahaha I said "a ton" like I have more than 10 readers.

I got a stupid 79 on my p.chem.  I was over confident after getting a 95 on my quiz when the average was a 65 and it made me very lazy with studying.  My friend that I was bragging about beating on the quiz got a 98 on the test and the class average was a 70.  Go figure.  Double lame!  His brain just gets chemistry I guess.
Also, Mexico is pretty dangerous right now..  As in two children were killed in a drive by shooting (on accident) on Jan. 11th of this year in the town I'd be going to and it was a big enough deal to make it generate an official warning from the U.S. embassy there.  I know that I'd be safe going.  I know it probably sounds insanely cheesy but I know God would protect me in Mexico.  He wants me to do his works and I know he'll keep me safe in order to allow me to fulfill his plans.  I just pray that my daddy will let me go.  Oh and for a scholarship to pay for it.

Mexico?

Pray for me as I explore my summer options.
As many of you know I have so desperately wanted to go abroad for some time now.  First it was Spain, then it was Honduras, and now it's Mexico.  Thus far I've received a flat out "no" from God in each of my efforts to go abroad.  I'm hoping that this will change soon.  During my sophomore year of college here at UNL I decided that I don't just want to be a doctor.  I want to be a doctor without borders.  I really want to do mission work abroad and use my desire for medicine to make a tangible differences in the lives of God's most favored people (orphans and widows, ie the poor and oppressed).  Although I won't have the title of Dr. Villegas for many years to come I want to prepare myself for the future.  I want to be ready when God decides to use me.  I am currently in the process of getting involved in a program that would allow me to explore my three greatest passions, Spanish, culture, and hands on medicine for the poor.  Pray for me as I explore my summer options.