Yeah, I am from the South :)

Hey girl,

This week, I was so happy to be in Philadelphia.  After an extremely difficult Monday (you know, you actually got a phone call about that stuff), my week quickly recovered, and I was reminded how lucky I am to get the opportunity to live here. This is an experience I always wanted, but never really thought I would get, and here I am, go figure. (Now, don’t get me wrong- I do have a countdown calendar until I fly home for Christmas….. but I am happy here). Anyway, a couple of random/funny things happened this week that I wanted to share.

Tuesday: I'm sitting on my floor sorting my laundry (the laundry that I pay $7 a week to do in the sketch  basement of my apartment building) and I realize that a pair of my clean underwear is ripped! Immediately, I think, "I swear..... I do not have the money or time to go and buy underwear" (haha, sad but true) But then, as I hold up the pair to survey the damage, I realize.....that is not my underwear! Somehow, between the washer, dryer, and back up to my apartment, I collected a stranger's underwear. This is not a "Northern phenomenon" by any means, but this also never happened when I lived in NC..... not to mention.... I miss having a washer and dryer! I miss a lot of things (like a kitchen….I went to study at a friend’s apartment, and when I saw she had a real kitchen I just fell in love with the place) but anyway, this is not the time to be listing what I miss. Random underwear collection, check.

Wednesday: For my NP class this week, we had debates, meaning we had to dress professionally and “look the part.” I even splurged on the city bus ($2) to take me to class, since I was in heels (fancy).  I was sitting with my group, as we were discussing how different it was to come to school in full business attire, when one of them commented, “But Courtney, you are always ‘dressed’, you never come to class in jeans or looking rough.”  At first, I took this as a compliment, because I do approach grad school as my job right now, and I do believe in dressing at least business casual when I am dealing with patients (for example, this week I did my first pelvic exam….whoot whoot, and if I were a patient, I would want whoever was in my nether regions to at least look the part of a professional). Plus, I only have three full days of classes, only two days when I am in contact with my NP program directors, so I figure I can wear khakis for two days a week (Patho days, Fridays when I have lecture from 9:30am-4pm....yeah, those are jean days). Anyway, all of this is beside the point…. then, one of my group members said, “Yeah, dressing nicely for school is a Southern-thing, like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.” (pause for reaction)  

That my dear, is when I just started laughing (after the initial shock of the comment wore off- seriously I could not make this stuff up).  Not that they think I am “Elle Woods” but it was so funny to hear them think I dress nice for class, because I am from the south!  They clearly did not know me in college!  The conversation then turned into a barrage of things like “Southern people always dress nice for things, they see it as a matter of respect, they are so traditional,” and a lot of other generalizations that are just too funny. I spent a little time correcting these mislead opinions, but in the end, if they want to see Southerners as traditional/nice dressing people, why not?  It beats them picturing all of us wearing overalls and raising cows……oh wait, maybe that is me.

Thursday: After getting out of class at 8pm, I was talking on my cell phone on the bus (I normally don't do that, but I was talking to my grandparents, they make the exception) and when I hung up, the girl beside me said, "Honey, where are you from?"  Now, if anyone up here refers to me as "Honey" I know they are about to make fun of my accent, so I wasn't too excited about sharing my origin.  However, when I gave the cute little southern girl smile and said, "North Carolina" to my surprise she said, "I know...I am from Florida!"  Haha...I love that she said "she knew" like all of us Southerners know each other (not to mention I secretly exclude Florida from the South, seeing that all of the people who live there are just Northern transplants, but whatever, she was nice).  She then proceeded to tell me where in the city I could find grits, and that there was a Chick-fil-a within walking distance of my apartment. Again, I love that those are the two things she thought would fulfill my soul, grits and fried chicken :)  She may have a point.  We had a conversation about how much we miss biscuits and cakes (homemade from our grandmothers).  Then, sadly, I had to get off the bus at my stop, and my Southern connection was severed.  It was really nice.

So those were the highlights of my week- stranger underwear and southern mis/connections. Good times. How are things down south?  Traditional? Dressy? :) 

I told some friends this week, that when I come home for break, I will probably have culture shock. But, I think the food, family, and the fact I will have a couch to lay on, will help my adjustment, haha

Hope you have a great weekend,

Miss and love you.

Court

Learn something new every week...

Hey girl,

 This past week was a tough one (by this point you are probably saying, isn’t this a trend- yes it is!  I think UPenn is trying to kill me….slowly….and painfully).  I have decided that if I can make it to Dec 9^th, I will have accomplished one of my greatest victories (over the giant that is- one semester of grad school).  I cannot think of more than one semester right now. I haven’t had a mental breakdown this week, and I want to keep it that way. 

So, this week, I passed my second demonstration!  This one included a review of systems, head to toe assessment, and assessment write-up, totaling 3 hours! I swear, I can assess like no other and I can ask you every question under the sun related to your digestive system (and all the other systems, I am just best at the digestive system for some reason-haha).  After I got out of lab at 8pm, I headed to the local market to get food for a celebratory dinner (in all honesty, I didn’t have a bit of food in my apartment, and when I run out of milk, bread, cheese, and cereal…. I don’t know where to go). So for my celebration, I decided to splurge and buy things too expensive for weekly purchase- TGIF’s potato skins and grapes!  Both items cost over $5 here, which is a no-no in my current budget, and they both tasted AMAZING!  Don’t worry, the next day I went back to a cheese sandwich and sunchip lunch.

Today, I went to the street market, partially because I cannot afford grapes again until Spring, and because I don’t know how much longer I am going to be able to get fresh fruit every weekend.  (I usually stick with the apples, $1.65 a lb, sold by the cute guys…. but who is looking).  While walking to the market, I realized- once it has been cold one week, these Northerners dress like its freezing no matter the temperature.  I was comfortable in a long sleeve shirt and jeans, and some of the people I passed were in full winter coat/hat/ glove attire.  It was very strange, but also reassuring to know that when it actually does turn cold…. I will not be alone in my arctic attire.

 I am making a photo log called “what I have to wear to class” to document the progression of coldness, haha.   I thought it would be a funny way to keep track of just how ridiculous I have to look on my 2 mile walk each day (or how cold I get before I start spending the $2 on the bus). I took my first picture this week, and if I can figure out how to post pictures, I will share. Surviving a winter up here will definitely be a learning experience.   

Speaking of learning experiences, I learned something very valuable this week- how to deal with mice in your apartment. No, I have not encountered a mouse yet, but my Northern friends are preparing me for the day.  Now, other than the weird creature that I swear used to live in our water heater, I have never had to deal with rodents in my place. I think it’s a “Northern thing” or maybe just the acceptance that it will happen, is a “Northern thing.”  So here is what I learned from my trusted sources: I have three options:

1) I can use poison, which leads to the mouse crawling back into my walls and dying there- leading to the terrible smell of rotten flesh permeating my apartment for weeks. 
  2)I can use a sticky trap, which leads to the mouse breaking his/her legs and the squealing there until I take it outside and beat it to death. 
  3)I can use a spring trap, that will crush the rat body and leave a bloody mess- if it actually kills the mouse and doesn’t just disable the creature.

Yes, that is what my trusty “city friends” have told me will have to happen sometime this winter.  Needless to say, I would love a 4^th option.  I can deal with the cockroaches (yes, I have cockroaches on a daily basis) but not the mice. {Let me just clarify about the cockroaches- no matter how clean I keep this place they still come!  I literally sit at my desk, or in the tub (oh yeah), and watch them crawl through the wall from my neighbor’s apartment- there is nothing to do.  But be assured, I do keep this place clean….mom} Like I said, I can deal with that….. but Dear God, please don’t send the mice.  I would prefer to locusts…. if you were wondering. I will keep you posted.

That is really all I have for this week- cold weather and mice, haha.  I did see the most amazing sunrise on Friday morning, and it literally stopped me in my tracks.  It forced me to take a second, look around, and it hit me- it is fall (my favorite season)!  UPenn’s campus is always beautiful, with its old building and brick sidewalks, but it is supremely beautiful in the fall. I must admit, it cannot compare to the Blue Ridge Mountains (which I miss so much, especially this time of year), but it was definitely lovely. I think that the sunrise was God’ way of saying, slow down silly girl, this is not grad school, this is your life….. and it is beautiful (if you would just take a second and realize).

I hope you have a great week!  Miss you,

Love,

Court

(haha, Winter Picture #1, we shall see the progression.  ps, I am such a dork..... didn't realize I actually have my book bag on in this picture, very- my life right now)

It's been a while.....

Hey,

   Sorry it has been so long since an update, but my life has been crazy busy.  As my advisor says, you cannot trust anything a grad student says in October, because that is when her ghost comes out. Haha- totally true!  I hope that making it to November will be the equivalent of an exorcism, because the stress I am under right now is a little suffocating. So let’s catch up-

    Two weeks ago I survived midterms, and to reward myself I took last weekend off (as did all of my graduate school friends).  I took advantage of the great fall weather and walked to Penn’s Landing.  Penn’s Landing is on the Delaware River and just so happens to be the most eastern part of Philadelphia.  When you look across the river you can see New Jersey. I visited the Seaport Museum and then walked around The USS Becuna and Olympia (a submarine and ship).  It was a little educational for my “no thinking” weekend, but I had a great time.  My favorite part was just sitting on a park bench, looking at the river, and feeling the fall breeze.  Fall is definitely my favorite season. I took my guide book with me and scouted out a great little shop called Franklin Fountain.

    Franklin Fountain, is a great old-time ice cream parlor, and honestly (other than Reading Terminal Market) is my new favorite place in Philly.  The ice cream was AMAZING, and when you get ice cream to-go they put it in tiny little Chinese boxes.  It is a shame the shop is on something like 1^st street, when I live on 21^st street, but whenever I venture east…. I will stop there (especially when I have visitors).

    After that, I walked down to Pine St, which has great antique stores and little odds and ends shops.  I found some great little things, that if I was still working and not broke as a joke, I would have bought.  It was fun to look. I ended the day with a pizza (much deserved after walking a whopping 6.4 miles)!

    Overall it was a great weekend, I paid for it later. Imagine a credit card with a 25% interest rate, yeah, that is what I charged last weekend on -getting nothing done last weekend set me up for some disaster. This past week was the toughest yet, which is odd, because it was the first week since mid September that we did not have one test.  I was so stressed on Thursday, that I actually yelled and then cried to a customer service person over the phone!  I don’t know what possessed me to do that, but these days….. if you mess with my time or my money, the wrath will be brought on you….. right mister man from customer service, yeah.  I did recover just in time for Friday, which was my first walk to campus is sub-40 degree weather. I am proud to say it was not too bad.  I did wear a hat and gloves (very Southern girl moves North of me, but 36 is still a little cold for this Dixie chick).

    So, last week was rough, and my spirits were low, until today…..when on October 29^th….. it snowed!  I am aware that it also snowed in North Carolina (dang you), but it was great to experience my first Northeastern snow. I am sure by the end of my time here, I will loathe the snow, but for now, I am still the excited little girl from NC who loves to see snowflakes!  I watched it snow all day long from my apartment windows.

{side note:  it is currently 34 degrees outside and my apartment windows are wide open, and I have my fan on!  It is safe to say, that my heat is on…. and since it is central heat, I have no control over the hot/miserable climate of my apartment.  It is very strange. So, if anyone wants a tropical vacation, come visit.}

    So, that pretty much sums up the last two weeks of my life.  Nothing too remarkable, but every week is one less I have to do over (that is where my frame of mind is right now).  Now, don’t get too worried about me, I have had some great occurrences during these last two weeks:

-         ~  Meredith took me to the grocery store (for just my second trip since living here) and I got some amazing food! I am so excited each meal time now.

-         ~Susie made Halloween bags for us, including my favorite candies and individualized Halloween jokes: mine was- Where do most goblins live? North and South Scarolina! Haha

-        ~  I got a surprise package last week containing Duke’s Mayonnaise (which they do not have up here), leading to many enjoyable turkey sandwiches.

-          ~I was able to pack away my summer shirts, and now I have room for my clothes in my drawers! (Even when all of my clothes are clean….and that is a big step)

-          ~I finally found out how to get my shower from leaking…. break the handle off to the right!

    Haha, yeah that’s all I’ve got.  I do really love it here, and there are moments every day that I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to live out this dream.  Even though I complain (mostly in humor), I am so grateful for having this amazing apartment, in the best neighborhood of Philly (yes, I am partial), and for having the best friends a girl could ask for!  I am not kidding- Meredith, Susie, Lauren, and Katie have been incredible these past weeks. (Don’t worry, no one compares to you my love.) God is definitely looking out for me, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

That is enough for now.  I love and miss you! 

Courtney

Ps- I got a letter from Hannah and Roy this week (with $3) and I got The Upper Room from Mildred. I love our St. Matthew’s family.   

Shining

You're kicking my butt at this posting thing!!  I guess the country life isn't quite as exciting as the city life :)  The leaves are changing though and the weather is getting a little cooler...this and spring are my favorite seasons.  I love the transitional seasons.  Perfect weather.  ...Except for when it rains, that, my friend, sounds like it is NO fun!!

I'm glad you didn't get run over, let me begin by saying that!  Hang in there!  I know you take bad grades hard, but from someone that almost made a D in astronomy my freshman year...it's ok!  I think the beginning of anything is so hard!  There should be a learning curve of some kind for the first few months of school!  And just so people know...I brought that grade up, didn't want to scare anyone!

Just like the weather, I feel like I'm going through a transitional season.  I've decided that mid-20's suck.  You don't have many ties...you don't know what to do with your life...no fun.  While other people look at this as a good (exciting even!!) time, it's been challenging the past few months.  You survived my "quarter life crisis" in May, so hopefully I'll find some perspective soon.

Nothing exciting is going on.  I'm praying a lot to figure out where I'm suppose to be.  I want to know that I'm using the gifts God gave me, but don't know what that is at the moment.  Should I stay in teaching?  Questions...questions. 

I pray things turn up for you.  Like I posted on your wall, even in the rain, you shine.  Don't ever forget that.  You got this girl!  Don't ever doubt that :)

Love you!
Coley

When it rains....

Dear Coley,

   

Let me just tell you what kind of day I had......

Well, first, on my way to school, in the rain, I almost got hit by a taxi!  Seriously, stopped in the middle of the crosswalk by a taxi..... which forced me to yell something at the driver that my mother would not approve of (I will just leave it at that, use your imagination). I mean really?!  I had the little white walking man.....and its raining...... taxi driver, dont cross me. 

Then, I took my Child Theory exam (oh, you know, just 50% of my grade) and completely bombed it!  I have not felt that inadequate, or honestly mad at the professor writing the test, since around the time of freshman Chemistry.  It is safe to say, that I have made it through two Patho exams unscathed (arguable one of the two most difficult classes in all of grad school), to get my first taste of failure, in the form of a Child Theory knuckle sandwich. Blah (I am honestly hoping I scrapped by with a C.... and you know how I feel about that).

Oh wait, I am not finished.  Then I get to finish my day, literally running four blocks in the rain, trying to chase down my bus home. I refused to stand in the rain for another 30min waiting for the next one. I caught it, thank you God (seriously) and then spent the ride to Center City catching my breath..... just in time to get off the bus and walk four more blocks....in the pouring rain.

I told David, after this day...... maybe the taxi should have just hit me!

(Just kidding my love).

Now off to eat chocolate pudding and popcorn for dinner (yes, I am doing it. When a girl doesn't have access to fried pickles after a day like that, she has to compromise).

Hoping tomorrow is better :)

Love you,

Court 

Occupied Day

Dear Coley,

     Sorry I haven’t written in a while, I have now entered the ‘there is at least one test and something else due each week’ part of the grad school journey. I have not started counting the days or anything, that would be way to depressing, but I did look up flights home for Christmas (fyi: Dec 13^th folks…. that’s what I am aiming for).  Anyway, with all of the school work, and exhaustion I have had recently, the city life has taken the back burner. That is, until yesterday.

     I had an interview for an internship in the City Hall area of downtown. The actual building I interviewed in was right beside the, well one of the many, Opera houses of Philly. Even though I live in Center City….. the office was in, what I call, center Center City (a nice 12 blocks east of my place).  I haven’t completely mastered the bus system, other than knowing what bus to take to school, so I opted to walk in the morning….. in interview attire and heels….. bad idea young lady!  I look down on those women who walk in suits and tennis shoes, but they are swiftly becoming the smartest women I know.  So, I got the internship (yay), and then had to head to get my urine drug screen for my background check. 

    So, I walked the lovely 9 blocks north toward, what I now refer to as, the ghetto lab place. Sat there for a nice hour, and then finally got drug tested. (Ironically there is an article in the New York Times today about mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients, and how recipients think it is discrimination and unfair, saying that the government is implying that they all use drugs). Well my loves, hate to tell you, but I guess it also means that the government thinks middle class, white, grad school-going, southern ladies, also use drugs.  I had to put my big girl panties on (or the reverse actually) and take the test, so get over it, and pee in the cup the same way I did….. Wow…. I am becoming more “Northern” everyday….. did you hear that attitude?

     After that lovely event, I decided to walk to where I knew a bus stop would be, so it could carry my tired self home.  Little did I know that I would have to walk through City Hall which is currently being occupied.  Not occupied by the normal homeless people that sleep there all day, but occupied as in “Occupy Philly” aka the cousin to “Occupy Wall Street.” It was a little awkward to walk through the tent yard they had set up, in my dressy attire, and hear all the chants and rants. I don’t know exactly how I feel about the “Occupy” movement.  All I know is, the homeless people were getting a little restless and tired of those smartphone yielding, constant picture taking, ipod toting squatters, taking up their normal benches, haha….. at least they gave out free food. I think it is safe to say that no one is going to be occupying North Carolina any time soon, so that was interesting to see.

     I finally made it to the bus stop, and took the right bus home (small victory), to change and then head to the library for a night of studying. Oh the life of a city grad student.

     I hope that you are doing well.  I miss you so much. The other day I was so excited because I got a lot of mail….. just to realize that it was actually for my neighbor, and the mailman had accidentally put it in the wrong box, haha.  So far you and my grandparents have been my mail supporters, so thank you.

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Oh, the internship- I will be working with The National Nurse Center Consortium, a group of lawyers and grant writers who work to lobby Washington for increased Nurse Practitioner scope of practice (pretty much to make insurance companies grant us privileges and make the state governments quit narrowing our rights).  My job will be to do legal research, write law makers, and support whatever campaign the office is currently working on.  They gave me a little desk, with a computer and phone.  That’s all I know so far, will start on Halloween.(I figured this year I will dress up as…… a real professional).

Carolina

Hey,

   I am supposed to be studying for my next Patho test and my first Demo (tomorrow and Friday), but I cannot focus. Part of the reason I cannot focus is because I keep having this song in my head!  I haven't heard this song in years, and wasn't really a fan then.... but for some reason, today, I cannot quit singing it.  I was humming it while waiting for my bus home tonight, and I am sure the girl beside me thought I was a little crazy, oh well!  So, my theme song for the day was:

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Symbolic, I think so!  Miss you and my Carolina.

Love, Courtney