Back to School as an 18th Grader!

If every year of school was a grade, I'd be an 18th grader right now (I spent 5.5 years at BYU, loved every minute). I started classes at GW last Tuesday; a surreal and humbling experience after working so long and hard to get here.

Although I love love love school - so much that I never want to leave it, hence my career path in higher education - it has been a challenging transition becoming a student again after a 1 year hiatus and working full-time. But God has made every piece of my life fit so perfectly that I have no doubt that I am exactly where He wants me to be right now, doing what He needs me to do to accomplish the things He has planned for me. It's a wonderfully peaceful and empowering feeling. My job (in GW's medical school dean's office) enriches my classes; my class enriches my job. I love where I work, live, and worship. I love my roommates, my friends, my family, my coworkers, my boss, my professor (haven't met the other one yet), my neighbors, and my wardmates.

Let me just take a moment to say - GOD IS GOOD AND MY 24th YEAR IS GOING TO BE THE BEST ONE YET, I just know it :)

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

It doesn't even matter if I was sick and had to miss work and a dozen fun activities; I got a beautiful Priesthood Blessing for healing and Melanie brought me a sweet "sick package". So grateful for worthy Priesthood holders and thoughtful friends :D

After class on Tuesday, I went to GW's student organizations fair. WOW, it was quite the experience. Rows and rows of student leaders recruiting for their club/association/society/group/team/etc.

I love being involved in student life but my grad studies & job severely limit my ability to participate. I found out I can't make Jazz Choir rehearsals cuz it conflicts with my work schedule :( I did, however, join the email lists of Black Student Union, Hawaii Club, and Men's Rugby! And I ate lots of free candy ha!

Wednesday - I decided to finally check out the darling Farmer's Market right outside my work after my weekly Trader Joe's trip. I tried a cinnamon vanilla peach popsicle from Pleasant Pops, a cool new local vendor - I think they'll go places!

Got peppers, onion, & potatoes to make my first fish stew! It turned out mighty tasty (recipe is on Facebook)

Saturday - met up with some friends for dinner at Cafe Rio, a beloved reminder of the BYU experience. You're always bound to see a few Mormons and BYU students/alumni there haha

You'll never go wrong with a Pork Barbacoa burrito, enchilada style!

Then our group had to split because not everyone could get tickets to the Moonlight Monument Cruise in time :( Taylor, Melanie & I drove to Georgetown, which is probably my favorite DC neighborhood but I've never been there at night. So beautiful!

We boarded the small and humble Nightingale, which has seen much better (and cleaner!) days, down the Potomac River.

I think the Kennedy Center is my favorite monument

Lincoln Memorial & Washington Monument

There was alot of lightning, but the rains didn't come...yet

For those of you who weren't able to come on the cruise, be consoled by the fact that you didn't have to worry about spiders dropping in your hair! They were all over the ceiling and I was paranoid about them crawling on me the whole time. What an adventure - at least the view was pretty!

Found an awesome colorful fountain near the dock :)



Melanie wanted one of those famous Georgetown Cupcakes but we got there 11 minutes after it closed, after getting soaked in the downpour. So we sought refuge and refreshment in Haagen Dazs instead - really overpriced.



Then we dropped Taylor off and went to the Salsa Room to cure my dancing withdrawals. Hadn't gone in 3 weeks - unacceptable. By that time, the rain had become blinding and deafening. I'd never experienced puddles that deep on the freeway. Sorry no pics this time.






Sunday was wonderful as usual, especially because it was Fast Sunday. Also hung out with some fun kids in our neighboring ward at their monthly social.

Monday - thank goodness for Labor Day! We had a combined ward temple trip - a beautiful way to start the day/week/month/school year

Spent the rest of the holiday studying, helping Britt move, talking to Mom, going Target, and finally tried the local favorite everyone raves about - Kabob Palace (Afghan food). Look at all that meat marinating!

The wait was super long and my lamb was tough as tires

...but Victoria, Vanessa, and I met a really nice man named Marlon who'd traveled all over the place and gave us a recommendation for a good Mexican restaurant.

Maybe grad life won't be so bad.