New Beginnings...

So last week started a new chapter in my life...I returned to school. Not just to continue my degree, but I switched from Biology (physical science) to Anthropology (Social Science). I know the word science is in both of them, but they are very, very different.

A few things I learned or was reminded of (not in order of importance):

1. Mental work is exhausting! I started on Monday and am carrying a full load (in fact, an overload). All week I was tired when I got in my car to come home - just exhausted. I thought that it was the walking around, the getting up early, the physical part of participating in class. But on Friday, I went for a meeting at NIU, got up early and was packing for a weekend away BUT I was not nearly as tired! I realized how hard I was thinking in class made me exhausted!

2. Why was I thinking so hard? Well, I have no background in anthropology! The names of the "fathers of anthropology" and the individuals that contributed over the last couple hundred years are complete strangers to me - but not to everyone else in the class! If feel like I am 3 steps behind. And I'm a grad student who will be graded as if I do know them.

3. There are 4 subcategories of anthropology and the correct answer to "What are you studying?" is answered with one of those subcategories. Those categories are Primateologoy, Archeology, Cultural, and Linguistic. For the record, I am cultural.

4. oh "and Southeast Asian Studies"

5. Anthropology majors and grads are "social" because we study society.

6. I'm not completely stupid.

7.  Yes, I am. I will never get all this information synthesized!

8. There is no way I will be speaking Burmese in a few months.

9. I might have to travel to Burma in the summer.

10. I'm supposed to be done with this in a couple of years. Theoretically, this time next year, I am thinking about and closing in on graduation! I know time flies, but that goal seems impossible to me based on what I know (or don't know!)

Alma challenged me to start a journal about my journey (her words). I didn't tell her that today that is called a blog. My desire is that one of these days I can look back at this and smile at how lost I am today!

I really need to reformat a bunch of stuff, but really just wanted to write this now. I'm tired.

PS - Scott's surprise birthday trip to Bruce and Nancy's cottage in Michigan was fantastic. Explored St Joseph and South Haven. Definitely dreamed of having a house there someday!