Student SPHere 2008-09

I spent the first three weeks of winter break battling boredom, antsiness and major cabin fever (but yes -- I admit -- I did have some moments of pure joy lounged out on the couch watching totally pointless TV).

I passed the time hanging out with family

running with friends

exploring the city

granting Make-A-Wish wishes

and, of course, torturing my dog.

I also worked on the Minnesota Department of Health project I mentioned at the end of last semester -- and realized reeeeally early on that almost all of the health education videos were in a language other than English. No subtitles. No translation. So that made my job simple...or nonexistent. The few videos that are in English, primarily about refugee mental health, were super interesting, and I'm still working through a few huge boxes of documents (that smell like the 80s) to see whether there are any treasures. I have a feeling there might be.

I spent a week up north with my family.

I tried to do all kinds of little domestic things I never seem to want to do when I'm busy.

I rang in 2009 at a Wii party with SPH friends (who had to run a 10K the next morning).

I did the Polar Dash with a capital "P" on New Year's Day. (Cold. Ice. Hills. No further description necessary.)

But I was bored...until I hit the wall. About a week before spring semester started, I suddenly decided I like doing nothing, reading for pleasure, baking cookies, sleeping in! And then I didn't want to go back to school. Ever.

Obviously I dragged myself to class yesterday, and yes, again today, but I'm definitely not back in school mode yet. Give me another week. It's going to be a busy semester, though, so I don't have much time to get back into the swing of things!

I had my community health theory and practice class yesterday, which I think is going to be awesome -- the entire course revolves around writing a real-world grant proposal which will be great experience -- and biostatistical methods 2, which terrifies me because we're doing statistical analysis in SAS instead of Excel, which we used last semester. Programming. Eek. I'm also taking program evaluation for my MPH and computer-assisted reporting for my journalism program, but I haven't had them yet.

I also officially started the Star Tribune practicum today! Though the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, I'm taking a class that placed me with the newspaper's health team for about 14 hours a week all semester. I'll be assisting reporters and writing my own stories -- I'm technically a contract health reporter, not an intern. And I even have my own desk in the newsroom (which was prepared for me with an "Elvis Presley Blvd" street sign). Should be an amazing experience...even though I'm sure it'll stress me out.

So, yes. That's 15 credits. Plus my research assistantship. Plus working with Make-A-Wish. Maybe running at least a half marathon. And doing a triathlon. I hope getting out of Minnesota for spring break. Blogging here. Blogging there.

I'm taking bets on how long it'll take me to crash. (But it's fun for now!)