As a new grad student, you can imagine I've been very very busy and haven't been writing. I will post photos of my room soon! Now that I'm a grown up and pay taxes and all, I'm trying to not just say everything that comes to mind. However, this is my blog, a place where I can express my feelings, therefore, I will say whatever I want. But just to make sure I am conscious of my word choices, I will use this cross out feature to edit things that I would not say in public.

I find myself editing my words now. People don't like me to be me here. Apparently my cynicism, sarcasm, and essentially "funniness" don't translate well from the West Coast to the East Coast. For instance this is my response to the head of my program on how I liked it here----

Welllllllllllllll, Baltimore is a horrible, depressing place different. Most of the time I look around and think I made the wrong choice to come here for grad school how I'm not used to such surroundings. It's so sad how prevalent poverty is here and, in turn, crime.


While I was thinking the crossed out portions, because that's how I truly feel, I didn't say them.

Here's a get to know your neighborhood factoid: I found out two things which likely go hand-in-hand. Baltimore is apparently the syphilis capital of the world. As I'm now a "scientist," I should not be quoting inaccurate statements as facts. So, I've checked the statistics and I don't know that that is necessarily true now so much as something people just love to brag about (who knows why?), but I did find that back in the 90s it was entirely too true. Secondly, since sexual education isn't a Federal requirement, they don't teach it in the schools AT ALL here. They don't take the more progressive- "we know you are going to do it but protect yourself" stance. They don't take the "sex until marriage because God doesn't like it" stance. They don't even take the ever popular "this is the sickest and worst case scenario and only happens in 0.0009% of cases a photographic depiction of gonorrhea. If you have sex, you will get this, and you will die" scare tactic stance. Whoever designed the Maryland state budget needs a briefing STAT about the necessity of teaching a traditionally poverty ridden and undereducated community about the spread of STDs/STIs and prevention of pregnancy.

I have officially been here 47 days and my car hasn't been broken into and I haven't been mugged.. so that's good.

I follow the Baltimore Police Department on Twitter.... and Facebook.

We did have a scare a couple of weeks ago. Nothing special, just the usual mad gunman running on a wild shooting rampage on the campus where I attend school
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/16/shooting-reported-at-johns-hopkins-hospital/

Update: I spoke too soon, my car was keyed 10/2010, $900 worth of damage. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Packing

We started with this.....


And six hours (and 270 pounds of clothing) later........


(I'm really really sad to leave)

Sorry I haven't been writing, my computer is really dunzo. I have officially spent more than 100 hours on planes in the last year! I can't wait to have a permanent home! By the time I settled into San Jose after this summer, traveling all February and March, I realized that I graduate in 5 weeks! Graduation is on Saturday, March 29th.

But everything was worth it, I will officially be a student of the Pathobiology Department at Johns Hopkins University come Fall 2010. Making this decision was difficult. I interviewed at 4 programs, UC Denver, Vanderbilt, and two programs at Johns Hopkins. I had turned down the program that I had dreamed about at UC Denver (tear) when I realized that Vanderbilt had more choices and would be better for my career. I went online and submitted my acceptance to the Vanderbilt program a week before the graduate school acceptance/denial date of April 15th.

Then..... I got an email on April 13th, in the afternoon, from Hopkins Pathobiology program. I was in a huge bind. It was two days before the deadline, I had technically already accepted at Vanderbilt, and I was really worried about the crime in Baltimore and the fact that both schools' stipends were the same but the cost of living in Baltimore is significantly higher. The worst part was only having a day to decide and I had a test, so I wasn't even able to sit and ponder it all night.

I polled professors, family members, and friends about what to do. I realized I had to go with my heart and the rest would work itself out. I could just live outside of downtown Baltimore where it's safer, careful budgeting would allow me to spread my stipend further, and Vanderbilt accepted a class of 140 so it was unlikely that rescinding my acceptance would affect my ability to collaborate with Vanderbilt faculty in the figure. I called Johns Hopkins and the director of admissions was over the moon, as was I. Then I called Vanderbilt, as I couldn't unaccept online and was offered additional money to attend. This gave me pause because one of the drawbacks of the school was that I would be just a number. The fact that the head of the program extended me an incentive to attend showed that they did actually want me. How strange to go from being rejected outright by some schools, to being waitlisted at others, and now schools are vying for my attention. It all happened in a span of days too! In the end, it all worked out. UC Colorado and Pathology at JH were tied for my second choice schools from the beginning of the application process and I was accepted to both schools and ended up at the right one for me!

It's weird. I felt like my head was going to explode as all this was happening, it was crazy to me that a small-town girl from Idaho, who was smart but not a genius by any means, is moving to the opposite coast to be paid to do ground-breaking research at a top tier school. Now that all the decisions have been finalized and all the paperwork had been signed, I can sit back and process it. I keep forgetting that I am a future JH student until someone reminds me. Besides, there is SOOOOO much to do in between now and then (passing my classes, graduation, moving back to Idaho, getting a summer job, making my first big purchase- a car, selecting roommates and an apartment online, and driving across the US to my new home) that I'm not going to think about it until it's a week before I need to leave. Well I'm half way to earning my Nobel Prize!

I feel like I can't even thank everyone enough. Some people that I only knew for a few weeks really affected the direction of my life. Many times I remember a piece of advice someone gave me and I'm sure they don't even imagine that they are still helping me make decisions. So many people have helped me along the way through emotional or financial support, they allowed me opportunities that I might not have been quite qualified for, and many believed in me and encouraged me.

I will have graduation parties in both Idaho and California so await your invitations. If you feel you might not be on the list for a graduation announcement, email me at brianacoles@yahoo.com. No gifts are necessary but, if you feel the need and don't have any ideas, I've made a registry at Target.com. http://www.target.com/lists/17AL1J48DXQT6

Baltimore Round 1

So this weekend was my first interview with the Pathobiology department at Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, MD. I am trying to go hard my last semester of school. As usual, I'm taking 20 credits. But unlike last semester, I'm just coming off of resting for a month for Christmas break, and I've made a game plan for how I'm going to get back on schedule and balance all the things I have to do. So far I have received a few rejection letters from graduate programs. One was a relief and one was somewhat of a let-down. However, I have two interviews with different departments at JH, and one at the program I really wanted to go to in Colorado. When I stop to think about it, I got interviews at the schools which had the most interesting programs and were the best fit for me.

I also needed to do some tight planning as far as a study schedule this semester because I missed school this last Thursday and Friday and because of weather, I am missing tomorrow and possibly Tuesday. Then I was just invited to interview with the Cellular and Molecular Physiology department at JH (For Feb 14 and 15th), so I will be back in San Jose for just a few days before returning here. Then I will be back in school for the middle of the week before flying to Colorado and missing another Thursday and Friday of school (Feb 19,20,21).

So I got into Baltimore after an entire day of flying. On the light rail, I felt very uncomfortable. The people on the light rail didn't have a full set of teeth between the 15 of them. We were driving through some very rough and destitute areas. I was tired as well so my first impression of Baltimore wasn't great. On Friday we had our interviews. There were about 12 other people here to interview with me. We interacted a lot with the graduate students already in the program and they were so friendly and made it clear that although their first year is consumed by school, you do find time for yourself in the following years. That was really important to me, because, although I love research, I don't want to lose myself in the lab.

I interviewed with two professors which were really personable, and a graduate student that informed me since I would be enrolled in school at JH I could take any additional courses I wanted like keeping up with my Spanish. As well, when I was looking at Public Health masters program, I had looked at the School of Public Health here, but it is $50,000 for a one year program and you need to have minimum two years working experience. She told me that many of the PhD students choose to take classes through the school of Public Health. I really feel like I would get a well-rounded education here, and I would be able to combine all my passions instead of just focusing on my PhD work. The graduate student I interviewed with really made me want to take advantage of every single opportunity. Students don't have to write grants, but I really want to work on my grant writing skills and she said my boss would be overjoyed that I had that interest. She said she has to work harder than the other PhD students because she has additional tasks above and beyond her lab work, but it has also resulted in her being able to travel internationally to conferences basically everywhere.

Our whole conversation got me really excited about the school and the program. In addition, being in the hospital (even though it and the school are surrounded by a 10 foot tall fence and armed guards) made me feel like I would be working with the best of the best. The best doctors, the best med students, they have a world class eye institute, the best nurses, and the best researchers.

However, the weather reports said to expect two feet of snow from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, so our interviews were pushed from 9:30-4 to 8:30-noon. Because of this change, my third professor interview was a stand in because my scheduled interviewer didn't make it to work. That was difficult because the new interviewer hadn't read my CV, my personal statement, my recomendation letters, or any of my packet, and he had a meeting. So we just went really quickly over my schooling, but didn't really cover things like why I wanted to be part of the program or my past research experiences.

Then the snow started.

We went out to dinner Friday night with just the graduate students and the events for Saturday morning were cancelled. After dinner, a few of us went to a hole in the wall bar with a lot of character. They brew all their own beer there, and the bar was just so unique. At this point I had started coming around to Baltimore. All the graffiti was covered in snow. The hotel is in one of the very nice parts of town, somehow I was able to kind of forget about the more destitute parts I had seen. When returning from the bar, it was apparent that this snow storm was no joke.

I woke up Saturday morning to about 20 inches of snow outside my hotel. Despite the city being comepletely unequipped for snowfall and therefore it completely shut down, the view from my suite was amazing!


I just kept looking at the swells on the side of the road thinking that they used to be cars. These people dug theirs out after a few hours of work! Not only is the city unprepared for snow, the residents don't have shovels or salt or anything to take care of the sidewalks or dig out cars.

So instead of leaving Sunday morning, my flight was rescheduled for Sunday night.... then Monday at 3pm, then Tuesday at 3pm. I cannot miss that much school! I got on the phone and yelled at the airline and the final verdict is that I will be taking a train to Philadelphia and flying out from there on Monday at 3pm. I was supposed to make it back Sunday at 5 and now I'll be back Monday at midnight. In addition, since the JH Saturday activities got cancelled, I've essentially been stuck in my hotel room alone for 2.5 days. I'm going stir crazy.

Today I went out walking. Unfortunately, as mentioned, none of the roads are plowed, none of the sidewalks are scraped. I thought I'd overpacked when I brought 7 outfits for two days. It turns out that wasn't a bad idea. One thing I didn't pack was real shoes. I got here with some flats and a pair of heels. Not quite suitable for the 25 inches of snow we've had total. Considering the weather reports were right and it only snowed for 24 hours, over two feet of snow was ridiculous. On my walk, moreso than ever, I really started picturing myself here.

ChristmasBreak

This break was very eventful, at the same time it wasn't, and I just had some much needed relaxing time. I can't even begin to describe the last month, so I'm going to make it more of a picture-driven summary.

It was just an adventure getting here. I got to my layover in Portland to find my flight to Boise was not just delayed but cancelled. This was Dec 17th. I was behind 140 other people in line, and they were telling the first few people, they could put them on stand-by for the 20th, let alone what they would have been able to do for me at the end of the line. Since BSU's graduation was the next day, many people had to get to Boise. I ended up renting a car with three complete strangers needing to go to the graduation and driving the 8 hours it takes to get from Portland to Boise. I got here at 2am... exhausted.
We had Christmas as usual, at Honey's. It's nice to have Mimi and her girls there, more people! And Christmas isn't as fun for adults, it's nice to have children there.

.
Christmas day we had too many meals. A big breakfast at Honey's. Late lunch with our family at Auntie Margaret's. Then, an early dinner at my mom's friend, Brian's. We ate, and then fell asleep on the floor.

We also got to hold Sarah's snake. EEEEH!



For New Years, I wanted to do something with my friends and with my mom. I needed the perfect outfit. I would wear silver, gold, and sequined clothing year round. However, my knowledge of fashion says that looking like a disco ball year round is a faux pas. After finding the perfect shinny shirt, my mom and I went out to a really fun dinner at PF Chang. We had cocktails, and our favorites- lettuce wraps and beef and broccoli. I don't think I'll ever get used to ordering drinks at restaurants, it's still so weird, even though I'm 22 now. Then she dropped me off with my friends. We had a good night ringing in the new year.

So, then I had a brilliant idea. I decided that it would be so FUN for me to take my baby cousin, Zoey. Not fun. We took her after Sabrina's birthday. We took her all around. Things I learned:
1. I didn't know babies needed to much stuff, heavy stuff.
2. Their equipment=complicated.
3. As much as I talk using words, they like to scream using cries.
4. She wakes up 4 times a night. And when she wakes up, she's not happy.
5. Apparently you have to take a baby shopping with you, driving with you, dinner, to friend's houses, they are going to scream if you want to have a conversation with someone on the phone.

And at the end of your day, your friends just don't know. As she screamed her face off and I was trying to have a conversation on the phone, I found myself saying, "I don't have time for things like going out! You have fun with that. I actually have a CHILD I have to take care of. I have responsibilities!"

I think even my mom was getting frustrated with her. We tried all the things that usually babies like. She didn't want to be rocked, she didn't want a bath, she didn't want her bottle, she didn't want to sleep, she doesn't like the car, thus we dubbed her the "Bad Baby."


After we took her home, I slept the whole next day. I was exhausted. And we didn't even have her 24 hours, it seemed like days. While it was not the "fun" experience I thought it would be, it was certainly a learning experience.

Robby took me up to Bogus skiing. I hadn't skied in 14 years except for doing a few runs with Molly in High School. After a few times on the Bunny Hill, I re-got the hang of it. In no time, I was impressing myself. I went all over the mountain. Although I was sore the whole next week in odd places, it was really really fun. He's been trying to drag me skiing for years, and I finally went, and it was actually fun! On the way down from the mountain, I was admiring Idaho's scenery. Although I love the city, I've also really been missing the outdoor community of Idaho. (I know, you never thought you'd hear me say that!)


My mom and I jetted up to McCall for the weekend. We spent most of the time watching old VHS tapes (and complaining about the crummy quality). There was so much snow there! We had a great dinner at a little Chinese restaurant. My mom and I are very big into sharing entrees these days. We had just tried a little Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Boise which was adventurous but fun! At the Chinese restaurant in McCall, we ordered spicy Mongolian beef, which I wouldn't normally try, but it was actually amazing.... despite the fact I was sweating and had to drink about five cups of water. My face turned red too. I have no tolerance for spice. The next night, we stopped at the Club for a drink and went and had appetizers at Hotel McCall. It was nice to get away for a few days. Bubble is so nice to let everyone use her cabin!


On the drive back, I once again had to sit back and think how fortunate we are to be able to see such beautiful scenery right in our back yard!