I guess it is finally time to share what graduate program I plan on attending fall of 2022. Drum roll please . . . Johns Hopkins SAIS in Bologna! Woo! If you would have told me that I would be making this decision 6 months ago I would have been shocked and ridiculously overjoyed - and probably a little impressed. That's right folks, I am packing up and moving to Italy. I feel so grateful that not only has this program really made an amazing impression on me, but they also happened to offer my the largest grant out of any of the schools. So, sorry to all the other schools that I was accepted to (UT, NYU, Rice, Georgetown, UPenn, UC Boulder, UC San Diego) and screw you to all the schools that I was rejected from (Yale, Columbia, Berkeley).
I cannot begin to explain how stressful making this decision has been. Yes, I know that I am so lucky to have had such a heard decision to make, but that doesn't really relieve me of any anxiety you know! Regardless, my mind is now moving to a different place to exert the anxious energy: How the hell am I going to pack up my life and move across the ocean? I guess I am just going to have to do it, simple as that. Right now I am here, next year I'll be there. Perfect. How simple was that? I am so excited to see the individual, academic, and professional growth I will have made in the next 12 months. I am going to miss home though, especially Alex, but I know everyone is nothing but proud and excited for me to start this journey. It is moments like these where I stop and think, "Wow - I love my life." A Presto Italy!
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What a fantastic weekend in New Orleans. Friday, we took off in the squad "bus" that was really just a large van, and took off from Houston. Along the way, we drank many beers, jammed to many songs, and snacked on many snacks - all in preparation of tomorrows race! After pushing SO hard, I finished the 10k in 45:19. I am ecstatic about that time, even though I did not meet my goal. Although, my watch and Strava both said that the race was 6.3 miles rather than 6.2, and Alex's dads watch said the same (but his mothers said 6.2). Regardless, I am proud myself because of how hard I pushed myself through the race. I really did want to give up at certain points, but it is also so hard to give up when you are working so hard to be so close to meeting your goal. Everyone on the group was SO proud of me, and honestly, I don't think I have ever felt such a level of encouragement and praise in my life - I almost teared up! This is especially when Alex and I walked back from picking up a poster. The top 500 finishers get a poster, and based on everyones reactions, it is kind of a big deal. Well, I got a poster! I finished 328 overall, top 50 female, and 8th in my age group. Here is a link to me finishing, and boy do I look TIRED! www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Qxflq2gx4&t=23m44s After everyone finished the race we drank beer, danced, and partied for hours at the post-race festival thing. It was such a good time, and a good feeling to be surrounded by people who had just pushed themselves to do something really hard and impressive. Speaking of impressive, Alex KILLED IT at the race. He did the full 10k without stopping to walk even once, and he even drank some beer along the way. He has not ran more than three miles in years, so for him to push himself to do that at the race is so incredible. This guy impresses me so much everyday, I am so lucky to be able to be the lady by his side! Anyway, after exhausting ourselves, we went out to lunch at this Mexican food place (I am blanking on the name, Felipe's maybe?) that had fantastic vegan options. Once getting back to the hotel, we all went down to the pool to get in the perfectly cool water and lay out and nap by the sun. Afterwards, most people took a nap, but Alex and I decided to watch basketball instead. It is playoffs, after all. Following nap time, the squad went out for dinner but in craving a delicious and vegan dinner, Alex and I went our own way and had dinner at this delicious Brazilian restaurant, Carno. It was so cute - it had live music, art everyone, a little theater and a mini library! Once we finished up we met up with everyone else on Bourbon and the kiddos (who were over 21) went out on Bourbon street for some drinks and dancing. Shoutout to The Dungeon for being the creepiest bar ever. We couldn't stay out too late, since we were so tired, and I am pretty sure we were fast asleep by midnight. ![]() As per tradition, Sunday morning, or Easter morning, called for an Easter Egg Hunt, which is by far the most fun holiday activity I think. More fun the trick-or-treating for sure. I appreciate the mom's so much for putting that together for us. To think they were worried we were to old - hah! Each egg had a $1 bill, which came in use for visiting the French Market. Alex and I didn't buy anything besides food, but we came across this stand called Meals from the Heart and got a delicious vegan sausage po'boy. After shopping around, we left and booked our way home. Sadly - Alex and I were unable to find a vegan beignet in New Orleans (or Louisiana in general). This means that I have to try my hand at making it from scratch, and I will hopefully add it to my recipes on this page! I want to thank the Raterinks and the Petty's for including me in this tradition and allowing me to race for the first time ever under the best circumstances (aka fantastic people!). I also want to thank Alex for being the most encouraging and caring boyfriend I could ever ask for. Hopefully, I will come down to NOLA for Easter and race in the Crescent City Classic with the team again! ![]() The weekend before my birthday, Alex and I took off on a camping trip to Martin Dies State Park. This fulfilled my impatience to get away with him for some quality time and escape to our comfort zone - camping. This proved to be ironic as this time we probably struggled the most we ever have on a camping trip. Still - we thrived. It was only little errors like forgetting bug spray, shower essentials, a pillow, and really having a tough time making a fire. I think the wood we bought was a little wet, so we can't really blame ourselves. By the first morning we got out shit together and could start a fire without a fret! It was a classic camping trip. We enjoyed hikin', collaborative paintin', good ol' hackeysackin', smores' roastin', hot dog makin', and of course some song writing. This song that Alex and I have been working on for a long time made its return, and I cannot express how amazing I think it is. Alex is so talented! I loved how much we discussed our camping "next times" and the incredible amount of reminiscing we did on our previous road trips. It's pretty obvious how much we enjoy these kind of excursions. Nothing beats these moments, I swear! ![]() The actually anniversary of my birth turned out to be quite special. Alex surprised me the night prior and once again pulled off a delicious two-tiered S’MORES cake, how crazy is that? He is seriously so thoughtful. The following day he had to leave for Rice, so I opted on having a perfect normal day all to myself (well, my brother was home but I did not see him until the dinner). I ran a good ol' 9 mile run, and it was really hard, but pushing myself is always something that leaves me proud and energized. Then I mostly just did work until the afternoon. My father and I went to Barnes and Nobles because there were two books I wanted to buy that Half-Priced Books didn't have. I also found a great CD, Torches by Foster The People. I jammed out to this while I drove myself, my brother, and my father to dinner that night. We met up with Alex and Justin at Mo' Better Brews, a new favorite, for my first time having dinner there. Boy was it spectacular, just look at the food! The croissant bread pudding was so satisfying, but as my father said, Alex's cake was better. When we got home we opened presents and I got some amazing things. Arian got me a wall-mounted CD player, which is PERFECT since I don't have a car to play all my CD's in my collection anymore! Alex got me these super cool pants, this gut bacteria pre-drinking hangover cure thing that I cannot wait to use, and the CUTEST t-Shirt that he designed himself! It is so sweetness! My father got me the new backpack I have been wanting and I have been adoring it since. Armin said his gift is on the way, so I will update when I receive it. You know - I usually get really anxious around my birthdays. Well not this time, and not really since either. We went out on Friday with our friends and I also had a couple of them over for a chill night at mine on Saturday. It was a perfect birthday, a perfect week, a perfect life. I am so grateful to have such amazing people who love me. I love you all, too! |