13 Days Before

Why, oh why, does it seem like this is number is wayyyy too low for the work I need to accomplish in them. Hmm, well, it is. I decided I could no longer take the GRE due to time constraints. Chris and I came to mutual conclusions on this point, and we both folded gracefully. It hasn’t been a totally loss, and I’m glad we had the time. Whether it be to talk, study the GRE, become more well-rounded from studying verbose words, or simply be more prepared in the future. I don’t regret it. On another note, I am getting sick, which makes me glad I made that decision before I got sick. This ontop of it being the build up to final’s week. I don’t think either of us could have handled it. One redeeming grace is, this is it. All the papers, all the classes, all the friends culminating to this shortly less than 2 week frantic, rush hour mess called “my life.”

However, looking forward never felt so good at such a time. When all but fumes are left in this college engine of mine, you can’t help but laugh and try and enjoy the ride. After all, if we can’t do that, what makes the difference from getting to point A to point B worth it in the first place? All we are at the end of the day is doing this all the time. To not look around once in a while, to not appreciate the beauty in the midst of a hurricane, is to lose a piece of our own humanity.

My dreams have grown more vivid, either due to the notion of losing precious status-quo creations or a sense of insecurity, every day ticks down like a clock climbing towards midnight. They consist of either past relationships, friendships, or fear of the future. I have choosen to face this inevitability with a sense of gratitude and accomplishment rather than trying to dwell in regrets or fallacies of mine. We face the person in the mirror after all, why not treat them like a brother. Although, I know not what my subconscious will bring tonight or ever. Often it is weird, ironic feeling when forced to face. I can control my thoughts now. What else can we do, really?

 Now to study abroad:

Poland and China meetings have wrapped up. They included last minute details which are more or less insignifficant. However, I’ll comment on a few here:

Poland discussed where we’d be staying, our dormitory and how we shouldn’t break our massive windows adorning our room, and reminders of things to come. Oh, and I made the first massive payment for Poland today. I also need to check on bank transaction fees for transferring money from the states there. Lastly, make sure my passport is copied and my parents and I have copies of it to insure identity.

China on the other hand, consisted of our picture being taken infront of a weird art monument, north of Curris. If I can get the picture before I leave, I’ll post it. We all received new t-shirts that say “Panthers in China” which strangely resemble that of the DOR shirts I got for staying on campus. On another note, I can’t take my typhoid yet due to me getting a viral infection. According to my China advisor, this was a good thing though because we may want to take it close to when we’re going due to effectiveness. Lastly, I’m still waiting on my passport to come back with my Visa stamp from the Consulate. They assured me it’d be back by Thursday. One can only hope this happens seemlessly.

 

Continue with the madness, roll with punches, bite the bullets, and face the music.

Health Advisory

Doctors, Nurses, and Needles, OH MY! A day filled with many questions regarding my entire health history of precautionary medicine unraveled before me. Similar to pulling a thread on a sweater, it became apparent to me how horrible the book keeping is from mid 80s to about 2000. I had no documentation of my second MMR shot (which is required to get into college!), my tetanus shot (2000), or my series of Hepatitis B shots in High School. I don’t think book keeping can be worse than this. As for the quantum leaps we have achieved with discovery of new medication, our health care has seriously failed me in the most primitive area. I didn’t realize a person can even have this many holes in their book keeping, but apparently I was wrong.

Continuing on, I was given a packet of information about potential health risks while traveling abroad to Poland and China. Many important ones were already addressed by my China meetings. Poland on the other hand is relatively safe, so I wasn’t too concerned on that. The true priviledge was to receive a Hepatitis A shot in the shoulder and a package of 4 pills for typhoid. I have to stop taking my anti-biotics for a week, and then I will be able to take the typhoid medication. A medication requiring a clean system in order to take. Hopefully this won’t affect my acne too bad, which is why i take it in the first place. Malaria, on the other hand, shouldn’t be a problem due to us being below the malaria line. Rabies are also just 300 dolars wayyyy too expensive. Both of these last 2 are more for rural areas anyways.

I’ll watch out for Old Yeller, so don’t worry.

Off to checking out how much I need to pay for books for Poland classes. =/

Oh, and in other news, ryan got delayed for deployment so I get to hang out with him longer. =)

Until next time.

All Roads Lead To Poland…

So, I attended a get together on Friday for one of my friends who is leaving for the Marines. It involved some partying and a lot of mixed emotions in the room. Everyone knew what was happening, but no one wanted to dwell on the subject too much. It was one of those memorable nights that you’ll store in the back of your head for years upon years. A night so good, how could it leave so soon!

It’s unthinkable to fathom him already leaving for boot camp right now, but it symbolized something deeper. Beyond all our stupid games, beyond all the random moments, beyond everything that makes up this turbulent semester lies something deeper. These friends, although not perfect, have been there for me. Ryan, you really taught me to stick up for myself in midst of controversey or uncertainty. Something, I use to run and hide from too often. I love you man, I wish you the best in the future, and can’t wait to hear from you in 13 weeks. I hope this opportunity gives you everything you need to succeed.

Now, comes the present. Everything needs to stay in perspective, and I know this is just the start of a lot of warm good-byes, or see you laters. It’s all how you want to look at it. Poland, lift me up in your splendor and bring in all that is good back in.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers everyone, and as always, thanks for listening.

Poland and China Updates

Poland: Currently, I’m preparing a possible travel with Chris and a person we met from the Poland class. As it stands right now, we’re trying to journey to probably Germany to catch a Soccer match in the Bundesliga Football League. However, we’re still waiting for our teachers to appear to our meetings, so we can plan a trip. Instead, this last Monday, we watched more of the video a former student made while in Poland. All of it has been amplifying our ardor to leave this ecclectic country and enter into another realm of life. It was really refreshing to share this common vision while talking to other Poland classmates during our meeting. Everyone has been getting to know each other better, including myself, and I think it will really add to the trip once we all start to mesh more. I still need to get my memoir from the library, pay a deposit for the trip, and get books for the courses. Other than that, I’m pretty much set for this trip on the college side.

China: I sent in my passport to get stamped by the consulate. Upon doing so, I should receive a Visa. Now I’m not sure if it actually is a stamp like most people have told me, or if it is a digitized print onto my Visa pages. I also paid an enormous fee to college as a down payment for my journey, so now it’s happening. All that is left on this side is to get vaccinated for typhoid and make sure I get my physical examination before I leave. This would also include getting my teeth checked out to make sure that isn’t a problem either.

It’s all coming together.

Picture of what my visa should probably look like (however, it could be a stamp instead due to me only being there only about a month):

(obviously my name will be there instead of this guy’s)

The New Gent’ on the Blog

Heyo Everyone.  Chris here. I’ll be helpin’ out on this old blog post over the next couple of weeks, then slower over the next couple of months, and then very slowly over the next couple of years as the blog moves into that “Beyond” stage at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I’ll be following along to Poland so see what Tim does and document it for a Carnegie-Mellow psychological study.   Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I am going to Poland with Tim and the group and I’m expecting to have a damn fine time. Hopefully we’ll be able to make you readers jealous at some point.

 

Until then, enjoy your time and goodbye.