Durham oh Durham oh Durham

Durham has it all.

Yesterday we (my parents and myself) arrived in Durham. It's a beautiful little city--cobblestone streets, little shops, a Cathedral, a castle, a river on each side, and lots and lots of trees! (go to www.flickr.com/photos/bobokickinashead for pics)

It's intimidating. I've done this whole school thing before, which I think makes it harder when you have to start at the bottom again. I'm not sure of the layout of the land, how the buses work, or where to go when I need something from the University. Come to that, I have no idea where anything is on campus!

The past two days we've tried to set up my bank account, get a phone, and get a student ID card. None of which has actually been accomplished. It's a lot of doing and not a lot of getting done. Frustrating, really. But, I am here well before orientation commences. The first session is a college tour and dinner at a local pub, tomorrow night.

I'm looking forward to classes merely because I know how that all works! You do your reading, you discuss it, you give a presentation, and then you write a paper! Done and done! This whole living at college thing, well that's a different matter. Must get used to a whole new system of living, communicating, and commuting.

It'll be a transition, but obviously a manageable one. One that is easier with each new postgrad I meet. We seem to all have the same thought process: don't fail out, don't fail out, don't fail out! As Katie would say, think positively! So: I'll get all A's, I'll get all A's, I'll get all A's! Here's hoping!

In the very very very beginning...

Last week I was accepted into Durham University's Masters of Science program in Evolutionary Anthropology. I'm absolutely thrilled at the prospect of studying abroad again. I get to spend an entire year (Oct-Sept) in England, studying evolutionary anthropology as it applies to social interactions and behavior. Sounds pretty perfect, huh? I found (or rather my father found!) the program that beautifully united my interests in evolution as well as culture/s. and even better, I was accepted into that program!

Andy, my boyfriend of 2 1/2 years has decided to enlist in the Coast Guard. After three years of researching options, getting together information, losing over 80 pounds, and two unsuccessful applications to Officer Candidate School, he's committed so much to being a part of the Coast Guard, that the next step is to enlist. From that position, he is more likely to be accepted to Officer Candidate School; and even if he never attends OCS, he will still be a part of a wonderful organization that will give him a copious amount of life skills, abilities, pride and future opportunities. I'm so proud of everything he's accomplished to pursue his goal, and I'm even prouder that he has not given up despite some set backs and hard news.

It's a wonderful, wildly new, chapter that I'll be starting this fall. It's going to be hard to be away from friends and family while undertaking a rigorous academic schedule. It will be very hard to find a new routine to communicate with Andy and keep our relationship strong despite being so far away from each other. Although I'll be in beautiful Durham, so I suppose some of the pain will be eased! And at the end of one year, I will have a degree and a ridiculous number of memories, I'm sure.

So the point of this blog is to keep all of you up to date while I prepare to leave for Durham, am in Durham studying, traveling, and learning. It'll be a crazy great experience! and since we all know how much I abhor the telephone, what better way to report back to you than via blog?! Everything's open here to everyone, so feel free to leave comments/advice/haikus!



Durham's skyline, dominated by Durham Cathedral


The Shield of St. Aidan's College, the specific college at Durham University I will be attending