4 Weeks ?!

So, I have been here for four weeks as of a few days ago. Crazy! In many ways it doesn’t feel like I have been here that long, but in many more it feels as though I have been here for ages. Cliche, but true.

I don’t want to continue being trite but I do want to acknowledge those folks who have offered me the support necessary to pack up my life, fly halfway around the world, and set up shop.

My Folks- Long story short, they got me to this point. They have been kind enough to suppress the clingy-parent-of-an-only-child-phenomenon to allow me to gallivant around the globe in the name of academia.

Dr. Smith- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: As my undergraduate research mentor he rocked. He gave me a foundation of knowledge to really, truly appreciate the nuances of working at a lab bench. He also afforded me the space so that I could genuinely learn from my mistakes and the sustained guidance so that I was not intimidated or downtrodden by them. He is an all-around stellar human being.

Laura- best friend Extraordinaire. She puts up with my ridiculousness and has been there for me since I met here. She was optimistic when I was not about the Fulbright application, matched my gleeful screams when the letter arrived, and answered the phone when I called her, minutes before boarding the plane, sobbing so hard I couldn’t actually say anything comprehensible. She is beyond fabulous.

Jimmy- [insert cheesy adoration of significant other here] I easily could, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll share a simple anecdote. Before I left, someone remarked that 10 months was a long time to be separated and they hoped that the time would “fly by” for Jimmy and I. The typical response would be.. “I sure hope so too” but he replied, without missing a beat, “I hope it doesn’t go too fast. I want her to enjoy every minute.” He has supported me, selflessly and without reservation, long before I decided to put 10,000 miles between us.

And then, there are the countless number of people whom are friends and strangers who have offered tid-bits of wisdom, encouragement or, in some cases, a much needed smile. Thanks to you all.