Well, before you can say "broiled crab cakes" it was time to wake up early, get dressed, and take the big white bus (the JHMI shuttle) to my first day of school. No breakfast, you say? Why no, because the jump start one needs every day and the essential part of a healthy lifestyle was provided by the school (sweet..)! After downing a cup of coffee (not a single thermos of decaf anywhere, now there's a sign!) and a cranberry muffin, I joined the herd of new students (some 300 bleary eyed folks) to be greeted by our deans and department chairs. And other people to help with our transition, including the head of corporate security.
What is to be gleaned from this description: People at Hopkins really need the regular strength coffee, as well as the security guards posted every 40 feet or so on the medical campus.
In the afternoon we broke out into our departments and subsequently, our cohorts/divisions of more concentrated study. We were inundated with even more information and I think the heads of our division got a kick out of our sleepy responses :-)
Today, we registered for courses, signed up for time slots to have our computers connected to the school wireless network (aka "bringing chillun to Momma"), got health and dental insurance if we needed the coverage, and took care of all the administrative stuff that comes with starting at a new school. I also had my photo taken for my school ID, twice. At first attempt, the combination of humidity-induced facial shine and three extremely bright floodlights resulted in a photo that had me looking like someone had smeared Pepto-Bismol on my face. I know these kinds of photos never turn out well but the first one was just too hilarious. I mentioned the Pepto-Bismol thing to the guys printing out the badges, and everyone in the room just burst out laughing :-D Anyway, they turned off one of the lights, someone gave me a paper towel, and I grinned for this second, much improved photo. heehee...I love that we have ghetto-quality photos at this world-class institution (it feels weird to say "world-class", but it really is the contrast that I love).
Afterwards, I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon with a new friend, exploring our new school and the Bayview Medical Center, a newer part of Hopkins Medicine about 15 minutes from my downtown East Baltimore campus. It still hasn't sunk in that I'm really here, and it is so humbling and exciting to know that every student and every professor at this great place has really earned their right to be here. And spotting the fruits of the research that is being done here, the implementation of new findings, and the general atmosphere of dedication and collaboration...these people will change the world. And, just as important, is the fact that the people I've met so far know how to laugh and have a sense of humor. Think about it for a moment. When was the last time you really had a great, genuine laugh straight from your belly?
I think I am going to learn so much from everyone, and I am really going to love it here.
So even though the sheer amount and complexity of the information we received had me feeling a little dizzy at first, the feeling that I am going to have a great two years ahead of me has only gotten stronger.
--ps--
-broiled crab cakes, are, in fact, delicious! Many culinary adventures await...
-I love my department.
-for the first time ever, I have no class on Friday this quarter!
-4 happy hours/receptions in the first week alone, which means free food for the frugal grad student!
-the asthma/allergy research center at Bayview has a huge hanging "sculpture" of sneeze droplets in its main lobby...:D
-I have one day of class this week (Thursday)...and then a four day weekend...perfect to take care of many things and study.
Oh! and if you have any suggestions on poll topics, let me know...I'll also try to think of more creative ones for the future :-)
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