Bible study Wednesday night was the largest it has been in awhile with 9 individuals including myself. My classmate, Belen, came for the first time. She is one of the smartest in our class, but I got a look of complete "lost" the almost the whole Bible study. The one time it looked as if she was following was when I had used song lyrics to help illustrate a point. This isn't anyone's fault, Revelation is normally a book saved till later in one's study of the Bible, not the very first. I pray that she will come again and ask questions. Lots of questions!
I'm in Ixtlan for my extended weekend (no class on Monday) and am happy to be so. Very nice ending to a good week. First exam out of the way. On to studying for the next. Certification on Tuesday (found out Friday that I passed, woohoo!). Going to help make some chocolate chip cookies here pretty soon!
Yesterday I had to take a different approach to my running due to the extra pb & j sandwhich I had at 3 not because I was hungry but because it was Friday. When normally I push myself and huff and puff to my heart's delight until my chest is gripped in pain...(haha, j/k, I'm smarter than that...besides it only happened once), yesterday I ran more leisurely for a longer period of time. My running playlist actually ran out of songs and so I choose to run the last bit listening to my feet.
HASTA!!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Yo estoy pensando.
I had trouble paying attention in class today. My mind wandered like crazy! Past embarrassing moments, brownies, movies, etc...all filtered in and out of my mind inbetween Calcium channel blockers, Digitalis, beta blockers, and other such antiarrythmics. I couldn't help but pay attention though when Dr. Garcia started talking about pp prolongation. I did know that he was referring to an ECG, but that still didn't stop a slight smile. I wasn't the only one in class.
Due to lack of soccer playing this semester, I've taken to the streets for some daily exercise. I started out running after the sun had gone down, but due to the state of the sidewalks I tried running during the day so I could actually see where my feet were landing. However, I soon realized that I run West on the most uneven piece of sidewalk so have the lowering sun in my eyes prevents me from seeing the sidewalk anyways. Plus, when it's dark out it's cooler and I can justify wearing a sweatshirt, although pretty soon I won't be able to do that either. So I wait till the sun has gone to bed, and just pick my feet up extra-high in a Phoebe-style run. (If you got that, you've watched Friends!)
I've also made a goal for myself in regards to running. The street I live on is on a hill, so I start out by running to the top of it. Used to take me 3 min to get up. My latest timed time was just 2:22. My goal is 1:30. Granted it's no 3 miles up my hill, but when I get there in 1:30 I'm gonna yell CURRAHEE!!!!!! Anyone think I can do it? Anyone? A vote yes? Anyone? (*cough* Christy, you're talking to yourself. *cough*) oh yea, that's right.....nevermind! (*cough* Christy, you're dialoging with yourself. *cough*) sigh.....
Hasta!
P.S. Some new individuals plan on coming to Bible study tonight. 1) Pray that Satan is powerless in his efforts to keep them away. 2) Pray that what they hear tonight is what God intends for them to hear. 3) Pray that it is what God intends for all of us who attend to hear.
Due to lack of soccer playing this semester, I've taken to the streets for some daily exercise. I started out running after the sun had gone down, but due to the state of the sidewalks I tried running during the day so I could actually see where my feet were landing. However, I soon realized that I run West on the most uneven piece of sidewalk so have the lowering sun in my eyes prevents me from seeing the sidewalk anyways. Plus, when it's dark out it's cooler and I can justify wearing a sweatshirt, although pretty soon I won't be able to do that either. So I wait till the sun has gone to bed, and just pick my feet up extra-high in a Phoebe-style run. (If you got that, you've watched Friends!)
I've also made a goal for myself in regards to running. The street I live on is on a hill, so I start out by running to the top of it. Used to take me 3 min to get up. My latest timed time was just 2:22. My goal is 1:30. Granted it's no 3 miles up my hill, but when I get there in 1:30 I'm gonna yell CURRAHEE!!!!!! Anyone think I can do it? Anyone? A vote yes? Anyone? (*cough* Christy, you're talking to yourself. *cough*) oh yea, that's right.....nevermind! (*cough* Christy, you're dialoging with yourself. *cough*) sigh.....
Hasta!
P.S. Some new individuals plan on coming to Bible study tonight. 1) Pray that Satan is powerless in his efforts to keep them away. 2) Pray that what they hear tonight is what God intends for them to hear. 3) Pray that it is what God intends for all of us who attend to hear.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Yo estoy feliz!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOOOOOMMY!.....MOM?......MOTHER DEAREST?
I'm definitely back in the groove of things now. Exams have commenced. Had my first exam of the semester this morning. Left the room feeling not too terrible horrible about it, then I started realizing things like oxybutynin is a muscarinic antagonist and not an adrenergic agonist. SOW! Oh well, I've scheduled my clinical certification for tomorrow so I've got to start studying and preparing for that. I'm probably close to the first in my class to have scheduled my certification, but I just want to get it over with so I can focus on studying what's really important at this point in my education process.
I'm definitely back in the groove of things now. Exams have commenced. Had my first exam of the semester this morning. Left the room feeling not too terrible horrible about it, then I started realizing things like oxybutynin is a muscarinic antagonist and not an adrenergic agonist. SOW! Oh well, I've scheduled my clinical certification for tomorrow so I've got to start studying and preparing for that. I'm probably close to the first in my class to have scheduled my certification, but I just want to get it over with so I can focus on studying what's really important at this point in my education process.
These are some pictures of a birthday party I attended for a classmate, Deena Mohammed.
L to R: Vero, Jo, Citlali (Adriana's baby), Adriana, Me, Deena, Feroz
L to R: Dahlia, Vero, Citlali, Adriana, Raja, Deena, Me, Mona
In news of the weather, a week ago today is when the sun came out again. I walked out of class a week ago frozen as always and soooooo depressed about that fact only to be greeted by the sun. I just about ran home so that I could open my windows. At that point I was about seeing my breath INSIDE my apartment. I opened the door and sat outside to study that day. There was an icy breeze blowing on me coming from inside my apartment. Thankfully even though it still drops very low at nights the sun comes out during the day and everything is as it should be again.
Here comes the sun, doo da doo doo
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright!
Hasta!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Yo estoy cansada.
I’m back from Bible study, and drained, but can’t justify going to bed at 10:25 so am blogging, but what do you know?! Internet’s not connecting? What else is new? So I’m typing and will post it later.
This week marks 15 years that Marshall and Jan Heinold have been in Ixtlan. They came to stay permanently in January of 1995, they don’t remember the day exactly but it was one of those around this here 20th.
Today was our last Hematology/Oncology class! Yay! The best part of the class (other than it being short) was that grading was based on attendance. We weren’t supposed to be done until next Monday but Dr. Martinez is annoyed that his foot (which he broke while gardening back in November) is still broken, and wants to take some time off so that it can heal already, so he hurried and finished today. No argument here.
I have two annoyances in class this semester. One, a girl who is not originally from our class has chosen to sit in the very front of the class. That’s not annoying. But she comes in late everyday and tiptoes down the steps to the front row and quietly sits down. Carefully so as to not make a sound in doing so. She takes her sunglasses off and folds them as quietly as possible and slowly sets them down so that no sound is heard. I almost want to yell ‘We already all see you!!!’ Honestly, why is she trying to not draw attention to herself when not an eyeball in the room missed her entrance? Sit down. Put your sunglasses away. And get on with it. Everyone else…well almost everyone else…can enter the room normally independent of the time they do so. Two, another girl in my class is never paying attention. She’s always on facebook or something. That’s not annoying. She’s not alone in the area of not paying attention. But what is annoying is that she gets out a compact to apply her chapstick. Chapstick!!! Really? Rub some on. Smack the lips. And be done with it. A five year old can apply chapstick correctly without looking at themselves. And also does it really need to be applied in layers…multiple layers? It’s not like it’s going to get darker the more you put on as it has. no. color.
Tonight after Bible study a few individuals came forward with prayer requests. Some for classmates, boyfriends, friends, Haiti. As the individual pains, hurts and stresses that afflict each one of us I pray that we can continually trust and find comfort in the fact that God is in control. I ask that you could keep the Bible study in your prayers, those that come, those that want to come but can’t, and especially those that want to come but are too embarrassed, too nervous, and/or too scared to come.
I just noticed my internet connected so I’m gonna do a quick copy and paste job and then call it a night.
Hasta!
This week marks 15 years that Marshall and Jan Heinold have been in Ixtlan. They came to stay permanently in January of 1995, they don’t remember the day exactly but it was one of those around this here 20th.
Today was our last Hematology/Oncology class! Yay! The best part of the class (other than it being short) was that grading was based on attendance. We weren’t supposed to be done until next Monday but Dr. Martinez is annoyed that his foot (which he broke while gardening back in November) is still broken, and wants to take some time off so that it can heal already, so he hurried and finished today. No argument here.
I have two annoyances in class this semester. One, a girl who is not originally from our class has chosen to sit in the very front of the class. That’s not annoying. But she comes in late everyday and tiptoes down the steps to the front row and quietly sits down. Carefully so as to not make a sound in doing so. She takes her sunglasses off and folds them as quietly as possible and slowly sets them down so that no sound is heard. I almost want to yell ‘We already all see you!!!’ Honestly, why is she trying to not draw attention to herself when not an eyeball in the room missed her entrance? Sit down. Put your sunglasses away. And get on with it. Everyone else…well almost everyone else…can enter the room normally independent of the time they do so. Two, another girl in my class is never paying attention. She’s always on facebook or something. That’s not annoying. She’s not alone in the area of not paying attention. But what is annoying is that she gets out a compact to apply her chapstick. Chapstick!!! Really? Rub some on. Smack the lips. And be done with it. A five year old can apply chapstick correctly without looking at themselves. And also does it really need to be applied in layers…multiple layers? It’s not like it’s going to get darker the more you put on as it has. no. color.
Tonight after Bible study a few individuals came forward with prayer requests. Some for classmates, boyfriends, friends, Haiti. As the individual pains, hurts and stresses that afflict each one of us I pray that we can continually trust and find comfort in the fact that God is in control. I ask that you could keep the Bible study in your prayers, those that come, those that want to come but can’t, and especially those that want to come but are too embarrassed, too nervous, and/or too scared to come.
I just noticed my internet connected so I’m gonna do a quick copy and paste job and then call it a night.
Hasta!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Yo estoy congelada.
I now know what it is like to live in an igloo.
Temperatures hit 32 F last night.
The last time I was outside last night was 6:15 pm and at that time I commented that it smelled cold. Rain came and stayed rain, had it come a few hours later GDL would have shut down due to snow.
I don't know the temp in my apartment due to lack of a thermometer that goes that low, but typing is rather difficult as my fingers are refusing to move correctly. My nose feels as though there is an icicle hanging off it. Should I sneeze it would fall to the frozen floor and shatter.
I've got to get out of here. It's warmer in Ixtlan.
Hasta!
Temperatures hit 32 F last night.
The last time I was outside last night was 6:15 pm and at that time I commented that it smelled cold. Rain came and stayed rain, had it come a few hours later GDL would have shut down due to snow.
I don't know the temp in my apartment due to lack of a thermometer that goes that low, but typing is rather difficult as my fingers are refusing to move correctly. My nose feels as though there is an icicle hanging off it. Should I sneeze it would fall to the frozen floor and shatter.
I've got to get out of here. It's warmer in Ixtlan.
Hasta!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Yo estoy cantando.
Update on the cold:
I felt better about complaining about the cold after visiting Ixtlan this past weekend. Due to the record setting lows that temperatures have been hitting in our area, schools in Ixtlan were actually closed last week due to the cold. In Ixtlan they hit 9 degree C (48 F). Guadalajara has year round temperatures cooler than Ixtlan so we hit within the range of 38 - 45 degree F every night! But looking at the 10 day forcast there is good news on the horizon!!! The clouds should be on their way by mid next week. And with the glad return of sun, temperatures are sure to feel much better. Here in GDL those two are copycats like that, the sun and the temperature, up and down together.
I bought some new shampoo when I was at the store a while back. I literally spent about 3 1/2 minutes staring at a bottle that said "largo y hermoso" (long and beautiful) before actually putting it in my cart. The conundrum causing such a delay in my shampoo choosing abilities comes with the question, "Can a shampoo really make one's hair grow longer?" A few of the deciding factors which culminated in the eventual addition of the debated bottle to my purchases are as follows:
1) The brand is a Mexican brand that I have popularly seen in Mexican households so there must be some merit to it's hair cleaning ability.
2) My hair is not picky. As long as it's labeled shampoo my hair seems to allow it to do it's job without side effects.
3) It was on sale.
4) Based on the three previous factors....why not?
So the big question now....Will the "largo y hermoso" shampoo make my hair long and beautiul? Only time will tell, Du, Du, dummm!!
Today our Hematology/Oncology class was in progress and approaching 12:00 (we were scheduled till 1:00). A Latin program class was starting to gather outside our classroom rather obviously as they are noisy. However as 12:00 came and went with no sign of Dr. Martinez stopping they eventually found their way to another available room. At the end of class Dr. Martinez commented on the Latin program lamenting that he would like to be able to teach in the Latin program as he would then be able to use his mother language and better express himself, but he concludes with saying that they are too young; he wouldn't like to deal with their "Sophomoric Behaviour." chuckle, chuckle! very true
This past weekend, I gave Matt, Ruth, and Caleb Gerber a ride to Ixtlan. Caleb was born Dec. 22, 2009. We took the autopista (tollway). It was my first time taking that route, and I almost wish we hadn't. The tollway is such a faster and easier way to travel, but it's not exactly cheap. Especially when I travel as often as I hope to this semester. It is going to be hard to go back to driving the free roads, but like everything else.... I'll survive :)
This past Monday afternoon as I stepped out of the shower I heard a chopping sound coming from outside. When I finally got to the window I had to take a video of the scene. Never in Central Illinois, let alone in Big Cities of Illinois, would you see your friendly neighborhood machete man going to town on your neighbors orange tree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPAYjlXHlnk
We've got Bible study tonight. Revelation 14 will be tonight's chapter of discussion. If you could spare a pray that would be a blessing!
Hasta!
I felt better about complaining about the cold after visiting Ixtlan this past weekend. Due to the record setting lows that temperatures have been hitting in our area, schools in Ixtlan were actually closed last week due to the cold. In Ixtlan they hit 9 degree C (48 F). Guadalajara has year round temperatures cooler than Ixtlan so we hit within the range of 38 - 45 degree F every night! But looking at the 10 day forcast there is good news on the horizon!!! The clouds should be on their way by mid next week. And with the glad return of sun, temperatures are sure to feel much better. Here in GDL those two are copycats like that, the sun and the temperature, up and down together.
I bought some new shampoo when I was at the store a while back. I literally spent about 3 1/2 minutes staring at a bottle that said "largo y hermoso" (long and beautiful) before actually putting it in my cart. The conundrum causing such a delay in my shampoo choosing abilities comes with the question, "Can a shampoo really make one's hair grow longer?" A few of the deciding factors which culminated in the eventual addition of the debated bottle to my purchases are as follows:
1) The brand is a Mexican brand that I have popularly seen in Mexican households so there must be some merit to it's hair cleaning ability.
2) My hair is not picky. As long as it's labeled shampoo my hair seems to allow it to do it's job without side effects.
3) It was on sale.
4) Based on the three previous factors....why not?
So the big question now....Will the "largo y hermoso" shampoo make my hair long and beautiul? Only time will tell, Du, Du, dummm!!
Today our Hematology/Oncology class was in progress and approaching 12:00 (we were scheduled till 1:00). A Latin program class was starting to gather outside our classroom rather obviously as they are noisy. However as 12:00 came and went with no sign of Dr. Martinez stopping they eventually found their way to another available room. At the end of class Dr. Martinez commented on the Latin program lamenting that he would like to be able to teach in the Latin program as he would then be able to use his mother language and better express himself, but he concludes with saying that they are too young; he wouldn't like to deal with their "Sophomoric Behaviour." chuckle, chuckle! very true
This past weekend, I gave Matt, Ruth, and Caleb Gerber a ride to Ixtlan. Caleb was born Dec. 22, 2009. We took the autopista (tollway). It was my first time taking that route, and I almost wish we hadn't. The tollway is such a faster and easier way to travel, but it's not exactly cheap. Especially when I travel as often as I hope to this semester. It is going to be hard to go back to driving the free roads, but like everything else.... I'll survive :)
This past Monday afternoon as I stepped out of the shower I heard a chopping sound coming from outside. When I finally got to the window I had to take a video of the scene. Never in Central Illinois, let alone in Big Cities of Illinois, would you see your friendly neighborhood machete man going to town on your neighbors orange tree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPAYjlXHlnk
We've got Bible study tonight. Revelation 14 will be tonight's chapter of discussion. If you could spare a pray that would be a blessing!
Hasta!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Yo estoy cubierta.
Week one of Fourth semester done. I think I would use the term quiet to describe it. That is perfectly fine with me. Did some shopping on Tuesday, and started up Bible study again on Wednesday, but other than that I came home from class and spent my afternoons and evenings studying, eating, and wasting time on the computer all the while trying to stay warm. I know that's confusing, but honestly I am colder here than I was in Illinois. We've had constant cloud coverage so temperatures are lucky to reach 70 degrees during the day which does nothing in terms of warming my apartment up which is lucky to get up to 60 degrees during the day. Even our classroom on campus is only about 60 degrees. So granted compared to Illinois outside temperatures are drastically different, but at least in Illinois one could enter a home and warm up/be comfortable. Sitting in my apartment in my sweats and under fleece blankets trying to study my blood tends to stop flowing efficiently and I find myself saying I wish I were back in Illinois so I could warm up!
How I stay warm:
1. Hood is always up on my hoodie sweatshirt.
2. When my hands get past being just cold I heat up water. Holding the cup (or attempting to) warms up the hands. Drinking the water warms the rest of me.
3. When my feet get past being just cold I move into my bedroom where I have a tiny space heater and I study in there for a while sitting in front of it (a.k.a. my feet in front of it)
4. Sit with a fleece blanket wrapped around me.
5. Go to bed early at night, and stay in bed till the last possible minute in the mornings.
6. Keep telling myself that as soon as the sun decides to shine again it'll be much warmer, definitely by February at least.
Ok, ok I know, move off of being cold. I get no sympathy from you! :P
After two days of an oatmeal diet I finally was able to go to the store on Tuesday and get some yummy food. Not that oatmeal isn't yummy...it just seriously lacks in variety. Oh what's for breakfast? Oatmeal! How bout lunch? Oooooatmeal! Supper? oatmeal Breakfast? oatmeal? Lunch? Oat....nevermind, I think I'll pass.
So now I have variety again!
1. Hood is always up on my hoodie sweatshirt.
2. When my hands get past being just cold I heat up water. Holding the cup (or attempting to) warms up the hands. Drinking the water warms the rest of me.
3. When my feet get past being just cold I move into my bedroom where I have a tiny space heater and I study in there for a while sitting in front of it (a.k.a. my feet in front of it)
4. Sit with a fleece blanket wrapped around me.
5. Go to bed early at night, and stay in bed till the last possible minute in the mornings.
6. Keep telling myself that as soon as the sun decides to shine again it'll be much warmer, definitely by February at least.
Ok, ok I know, move off of being cold. I get no sympathy from you! :P
After two days of an oatmeal diet I finally was able to go to the store on Tuesday and get some yummy food. Not that oatmeal isn't yummy...it just seriously lacks in variety. Oh what's for breakfast? Oatmeal! How bout lunch? Oooooatmeal! Supper? oatmeal Breakfast? oatmeal? Lunch? Oat....nevermind, I think I'll pass.
So now I have variety again!
Two random Spanish tidbits I picked up while out: The ATM I needed was out of order. It ate my card, but thankfully the bank employees were still there and could laxitate the machine for me and then give me directions through the mall to where another Santander ATM was located. The man told me directions and then that it was outside of the store Ceas [at least in my head this is what I was picturing that I had heard (remember in Spanish sounds are pronounced individually, think S'eance without the n)] with a bunch of other ATMs. So I walked in the direction pointed out, turned the corner and there was Sears with a bunch of ATMs in front of it. I had never even thought of pronouncing Sears with a spanish accent before so I didn't recognize it. Then a bit later I was perusing the cans of Prego pasta sauces in WalMart trying to decide which would delight my palate the most. Behind me a lady asked her husband which salsa he wanted. That made me start. Thinking about it I guess that literally salsa means sauce so in English its Prego sauce in Spanish its Prego salsa. Even though I know that what Americans call salsa is not to be found in Mexico, I guess in my mind the term salsa still carries a bit of it's original Americanization for me.
I must go and buy some minutes for my phone now. There's supposedly a surprise birthday party/potluck happening tonight, but they who are planning have failed to plan. So I must figure out what's going on so I can study, run, prepare food, and still get there on time.
Hasta!
Hasta!
Now if someone would just invent an automatic page turner!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Yo estoy queriendo estar todavia a casa.
Slept long last night, and still refused to get out from under my covers till I'd hit the snooze twice. This semester going back feels different than previous semesters. This morning it felt as if I was going for the first time instead of returning as it has felt previously. This could be attributed to the new dress code (all white), the run down appearance of campus (more so than normal at least) due to the lack of groundspeople over break, or because my semester was the only people on campus (lucky us!! they like us sooo much they bring us back before anyone else). Or it could have felt different because I wanted it to feel different. (yes, I know, only crazy people and psychologists can make reason out of that, and I'm definitely not the latter so......)
The following pictures are for Grandma Kuntz:
Before: I've been wearing a broken shoelace in my right shoe for months and it currently is about halfway through the lace on it's way to breaking again.
After: Same length again. Yay! Now I think maybe, probably, I should wash/bleach the left lace.
HASTA!
The following pictures are for Grandma Kuntz:
Before: I've been wearing a broken shoelace in my right shoe for months and it currently is about halfway through the lace on it's way to breaking again.
After: Same length again. Yay! Now I think maybe, probably, I should wash/bleach the left lace.
HASTA!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Yo estoy de seguridad en Guadalajara.
I'm back once again in Guadalajara.
It was a surprising shock to look out the airplane window in GDL and see the workers wearing short-sleeves. I myself was wearing four layers, three of which were long-sleeved, to lighten my suitcase. I guess I had gotten used to seeing the scarves and thick coats that the Illinois weather demanded. Upon arriving in GDL I hopped in a taxi and soon arrived at my apartment smelling of wet cement. I guess that happens leaving it all locked up for almost a month. Hopefully leaving it open during the day will take care of that right quick.
I can't decide if I'm excited about 4th semester or not. I'm feelin' a bit apathetic towards the whole seeing everyone again. I guess it's going to happen one way or another so I better get on with it, eh?
May the Lord go before me this semester.
Hasta!
It was a surprising shock to look out the airplane window in GDL and see the workers wearing short-sleeves. I myself was wearing four layers, three of which were long-sleeved, to lighten my suitcase. I guess I had gotten used to seeing the scarves and thick coats that the Illinois weather demanded. Upon arriving in GDL I hopped in a taxi and soon arrived at my apartment smelling of wet cement. I guess that happens leaving it all locked up for almost a month. Hopefully leaving it open during the day will take care of that right quick.
I can't decide if I'm excited about 4th semester or not. I'm feelin' a bit apathetic towards the whole seeing everyone again. I guess it's going to happen one way or another so I better get on with it, eh?
May the Lord go before me this semester.
Hasta!
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