First Week Update

Sitting here in my apartment with the smells of my first baking attempt filling the air, waiting for my first guests to come over, and feeling so grateful to be here. 

I can't believe that it's already been a full week. In many ways it feels like way longer. During the course of this first week I have managed to get my apartment filled with enough things to make it feel lived in (though tonight's adventure in the kitchen made me want to buy at least one real chopping knife), get to all of the classes and meetings I needed to be at (granted some of them I wasn't exactly on time for), get some homework done, and start building some relationships with people I hope will be not only great people to study and train with but good friends as well. 

All in all- it has been a great week. I really like my advisor Brent (he was described by someone outside of the program who met him as a big teddy bear- with which I agree). The six other students in my program are a great mix (a gal named Gaa- Hee from South Korea, a young man named Philip from Germany, a gal from Saint Lucia named Nikki, a gal from U at Albany named Justina, a gal from Indiana named Amber, and a great gal from NYU named Nikki)- great diversity with young folks straight outta undergrad, 3 folks with Masters, and clearly some very real ethnic diversity as well. We have the opportunity to have some great discussions. We feel like a good group.

Anyhow- tonight I'm just feeling grateful to already have Nikki from NYU and her great husband (with whom I played tennis yesterday) over to my place for dessert and drinks. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity that I have been given. I look forward to the first full week.