The lengthy post...

You've been warned. I'm about to give you the update that I've been promising for quite some time now.  :)

First, thanks so much for the emails and notes. I think I'm not cut out for this whole "planning a wedding" thing but I am really enjoying the affirmation and having a fiance.  It's fun to brainstorm ideas for the wedding/reception and then be able to say, "whelp, that's not happening for a long time, so let's not worrying about it."

Second, thanks so much for the MCAT encouragement. As I wrote briefly before, I feel like it went well. At least, I feel better than I did last time. Part of that is because I've come to the realization that this score is not going to make or break my career plans. Part of THAT is because I am still not 100 percent sure that medical school is what I want to do. I definitely feel excited about school and I'm going to finish the application process.  But, if med school doesn't pan out this year, I still feel like I have a lot of options for the future. I can always apply again (if I realize my heart is truly set on it) or I can branch out and do something completely different.  I'm trying to embrace the fact that I'm young, flexible and don't need to have my life completely planned out.

Third, work (part a). I am loving my work at Bread. Sometimes it is really overwhelming and I can barely think. I tend to have massive "brain farts" while sitting at the front desk because there is just so much to do, I don't know where to start. It's also been kind of hard for me to not take the patients' complaints too personally. When they are frustrated with the system, it tends to be MY FAULT, even though it is the system that is to blame. I have to remind myself that the majority of these people don't receive much respect from the healthcare system.... So as much I want to just give those people---those ADULTS--- a talking to, I just keep my mouth shut. I think it's really important that they receive the same respect that I would want to receive, which means that sometimes they're just going to let me have it, and that's fine. I mean, obviously verbally abusing anyone isn't fine. But, most of the patients don't feel like they are being heard. I'm finding that paraphrasing is crucial skill here, and it really helps to minimize the yelling and makes people feel listened to. (But boy is it tiring!)

Fourth, work (part b). I really enjoy the people that I work with. The other clinic coordinators, the social workers downstairs, the lab techs, the doctors, the people in billing, the lawyers--the whole gang!  Everyone helps me when I have questions or sometimes they even catch my mistakes before I finish them! They're fun, pretty normal, not stuck up (that I can tell) and seem like people who are dedicated to doing good work for people. I'm super appreciative that my first glimpse into the working world is turning out to be a positive one.  It seems like most of my housemates are having similar experiences, which I think says a lot about the kind of connections MVS is making in the DC community. Awesome.

Fifth, my housemates are terrific. We just spent the weekend at Rolling Ridge, in West Virginia. While the weekend itself was maybe not the best use of time (in my opinion), we had a good conversation and lots of bonding. Landon and I taught the rest of the girls how to play Tichu, which is turning out to be a fun house game. We also played some Dutch Blitz for who excel at speed games (not me). It occurred to me tonight that our house has a lot of laughter. For instance, Sara and I were cracking up in the kitchen over the facial expression that accompanied her exclamation "I just want bread!!" All of us are meshing really well in the humor department, which is definitely a relief. We're also the type of people who like to explore, so I feel like I'm going to be getting my fill of the city. On Sunday after the retreat we went to the American Art museum and saw the special Norman Rockwell exhibit, which was awesome. It was incredible how lifelike his work was. But, it was also interesting to think about how white his work was. It is so representative of such a small portion of what was happening in America at the time. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful exhibit.  Tomorrow we're heading to a nearby neighborhood which is playing a free documentary on the history of HIV/AIDS in DC. Should be interesting.

Sixth, that's all! Now I'm going to bed!