And Another One Bites the Dust...

More than two weeks into my second semester at Pitt, and I am loving it here. I have found a great group of friends from the Newman Center and plan on living with at least two of them--Christine and Valerie (not my twin!)--in the fall. It is so much fun to hang out with people who share the same values and enjoy the same things I do. Today when I met Christine to go to church, we had very similar outfits on! Gray skirts, black tights/leggings, pink shirts, boots, and red pea coats. I thought by leaving Valerie in Michigan I would avoid matching outfits forever, but alas, I have found someone else who dresses like me.

Lately I have been spending a bit too much time on Pinterest, browsing through all sorts of crafty photographs and inspirational quotes. It is quite delightful, seeing what all I could do with some spare time. I just need to make more spare time. To read, knit, craft. Perhaps I shall knit a bit tonight before I hit the hay.
I don't have class until 10am tomorrow, which is nice, but I may get up and run before then. It is supposed to hit 50 degrees! I can't believe that; it is January for goodness sake. Yesterday was snowy and slushy and tomorrow is a springtime day. Speaking of slush, apparently the City of Pittsburgh doesn't find the need to plow the streets. The two main streets near campus, Fifth Ave. and Forbes Ave. were both full of sludge and grimy snow as I walked to the Cathedral of Learning yesterday to study. It had snowed overnight, but apparently the roads were not a prime concern for the city. Many of the sidewalks were doused in salt--unlike Michigan, apparently there is no salt shortage here--but the streets were another story. You would think with the hills that there would be good management of the roads, but nope!
Over the past few weeks I have taken advantage of several PittArts performances. PittArts is a program that provides free or low-cost tickets to local arts/cultural events. Typically there is also a meal or reception and a pre or post show discussion as well. Last weekend I went to the Pittsburgh Glass Center and made a glass paperweight as well as toured the workshop and saw several demos. It really made me want to learn more about glassblowing and perhaps try my hand at it over the summer. The father of one of my good friends at home learned the art at Greenfield Village and now has his own "glass factory" in his basement making Christmas ornaments. This weekend my friend Valerie and I went to two different events: "Jesus Hopped on the A Train" and "The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs". Both were phenomenal performances, preceded by amazing food--real, non-cafeteria fish, pastas, desserts, the whole nine yards--and accompanied by a wonderful discussion. As a bonus, all three programs were free! We both agreed to take full advantage of these opportunities, as once we are out of college, they will no longer be free!
Well, it is now "Me Time". Enjoy your week!

A New Year, A New Semester, A New Start!

I fear the postings are going to become less frequent as the semester wears on. My goal is to post once a week minimum, though. I am back in Pittsburgh, this time as a nursing student. The entire family was able to come out east to drop me off, and we paid a visit to Aunt Jerry as well. Because of school and internships, Caroline had not been out to Butler for a while, and she also had never seen Pitt's campus. I was delighted to show her around and hope she can come out for a lengthier visit in the future! Valerie had heard rave reviews about Primanti Brothers' sandwiches, so we stopped there for lunch before they headed out. If you aren't sure what is special about Primanti Brothers, read on! When Pittsburgh was primarily a coal mining and steel town, workers needed to have a quick and hearty lunch that would not require a fork and knife. Thus, the idea of the Primanti cheesesteak was born! The thick Italian bread--baked from two local bakeries (still delivered fresh daily!)--is topped with the typical meat and cheese, and, wait for it... coleslaw and French fries. Now, this might sound disgusting, but it is actually quite good. You watch as your sandwich is prepared, and it is served to you with the piping hot fries! It is gargantuan, so we split three between the five of us. It is tough to get your mouth around an entire bite!! I, having been there three times, am a self-declared pro, but others opted for the fork and knife route after the requisite first bite.
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least! I love my classes, but there is a significant difference in the amount of reading I have to do this semester, as compared to last semester. However, the majority of it is much more interesting. Now that I have declared as a nursing major, all of my classes relate to the profession: Nursing Informatics, Introduction to Professional Nursing, Microbiology, Chemistry for the Health Professions, and Lifespan Development. My favorite right now is Lifespan Development, as the chapters I have read thus far concern babies and toddlers. If you were unaware, I love love love that age group. Last summer I worked at Our World For Children daycare, which is at a Lutheran church near my home in the Creek, and spent my afternoons with one- and two-year-olds. It was a blast. Perhaps someday I will be either a neonatal nurse or a midwife. I've got a while to decide, however. Tonight I was studying microbiology in the Cathedral of Learning (which, unfortunately, I have not been to as much this semester because more of my classes are on "Upper Campus" as opposed to "Lower Campus" where the Cathedral is located), and I confirmed (as if there was doubt) that God exists. Cell processes are far too complex and intricate to have occurred on their own; thus, a higher power--God!--must have created it.
I am much busier this semester, as I have added both volunteering and a very part-time job to my schedule. Thursday afternoons I volunteer at Children's Hospital in the Child Life department for general medicine. Basically, I get to play with both the patients and their siblings. I also help the nurses if necessary. I enjoy seeing the kids smile, even when the hospital is not their most favorite place to be. The hospital is relatively new (built in the past few years or so) and wonderfully colorful. I am definitely considering there as a place to hopefully work in the future. My research job is with a person in the School of Public Health working on helping Latino men gain access to healthcare. I am mostly doing data entry right now, but hopefully I will get to progress to bigger things and speak in Spanish!!
Alright, so there is the brief version of the past three weeks. I hope to be better about posting on here this week! (Although, it unfortunately looks to be a busy week)