4.27.2010
4.24.2010
I live this life!!
Dear Chaz with the squinty eye,
Pack up your catnip, WE ARE GOING TO BOSTON!!
When I woke up this morning, I had to figure out if yesterday was a dream... Since I really did get into Tufts and I really do live in London, the only logical conclusion is that I am LIVING MY DREAM. Officially. As if the fact that I have an amazing parents/family/cat/friends, [who have always supported me no matter what path I chose] wasn't enough, I got into my number one choice for grad school. Wow! Tufts is the only program that I applied to that targeted both my interests in biomedical sciences AND public health. Being in London has made me realize that I have to pursue both... I need the knowledge and learning of science and the 'making a difference' bit of public health. I can't really just go one way or the other.
Program details:
Overall: based in the heart of downtown Boston, just down the street from the Boston Commons in Chinatown. 70-ish spots. The top 10% of the program automatically get an interview w/ Tufts medical school. Not sure if that really applies to be, but it is still cool. On the whole, the program is designed to prepare students for future careers in medicine, dentistry, vet med, public health, or biomedical research. It is a realllllly good foundation to have. It is really similar to what Meg did before Vet school. I am pretty sure I am going to get my ass kicked. haha. But I have been doing some research and a lot of students who have taken it said that the teachers really want you to succeed and are really supportive and always want to help.
Year One: Biomedical Sciences! follows the first year medical student curriculum exactly- down the test schedule. The differences: the masters program has smaller classes, more academic support in terms of tutors, and baller advising/academic counseling resources.
MBS curriculum includes: Biochemistry, Anatomy/Dissection, Physiology, Immunology, Cell, Organ, and Tissue biology, Pathology, and intro to Clinical Medicine [you actually get patient contact!!! that does not exist any where else]. There is also an MCAT workshop... and electives for public health. It is taught by the SAME faculty that teach the med students in the same facilities. The med students get their lectures in the morning, we get ours in the afternoon. Hello, legitimacy.
Year Two: Masters of Public Health! Concentration: Health Services Management & Policy
How kick ass? soooo kick ass.
-This program is the only one I have seen that you can get a Masters in Public Health in 1 year.... Usually is 1.5-2 yr, but they have integrated the two programs enough that you can apply to the MPH after your first semester of MBS. aka 2 years = 2 degrees. Think of all the letters I will have following my name...
MPH Curriculum: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Care Politics, Policies, and Progs, PH Theory, PH Economics, PH Program Evaluation, Health behavior and communication, Law in Public Health, and Health Care Organization. I think I started salivating just TYPING that. So cool so cool SO COOL.
Not sure what I will do when I am done, but I have 2 years to decide and this program will definitely help me figure it out. The cool thing is that the MPH is a stand alone degree- so I can start a career in public health when I am done if I want to. I will also be full prepared to pursue med school, a phd, or a career after this. I have to decide and reply to them by May 12th. I am 90% sure I am going to accept, but I just want to ponder a little bit. Classes start the last week of August.
Program details:
Overall: based in the heart of downtown Boston, just down the street from the Boston Commons in Chinatown. 70-ish spots. The top 10% of the program automatically get an interview w/ Tufts medical school. Not sure if that really applies to be, but it is still cool. On the whole, the program is designed to prepare students for future careers in medicine, dentistry, vet med, public health, or biomedical research. It is a realllllly good foundation to have. It is really similar to what Meg did before Vet school. I am pretty sure I am going to get my ass kicked. haha. But I have been doing some research and a lot of students who have taken it said that the teachers really want you to succeed and are really supportive and always want to help.
Year One: Biomedical Sciences! follows the first year medical student curriculum exactly- down the test schedule. The differences: the masters program has smaller classes, more academic support in terms of tutors, and baller advising/academic counseling resources.
MBS curriculum includes: Biochemistry, Anatomy/Dissection, Physiology, Immunology, Cell, Organ, and Tissue biology, Pathology, and intro to Clinical Medicine [you actually get patient contact!!! that does not exist any where else]. There is also an MCAT workshop... and electives for public health. It is taught by the SAME faculty that teach the med students in the same facilities. The med students get their lectures in the morning, we get ours in the afternoon. Hello, legitimacy.
Year Two: Masters of Public Health! Concentration: Health Services Management & Policy
How kick ass? soooo kick ass.
-This program is the only one I have seen that you can get a Masters in Public Health in 1 year.... Usually is 1.5-2 yr, but they have integrated the two programs enough that you can apply to the MPH after your first semester of MBS. aka 2 years = 2 degrees. Think of all the letters I will have following my name...
MPH Curriculum: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Care Politics, Policies, and Progs, PH Theory, PH Economics, PH Program Evaluation, Health behavior and communication, Law in Public Health, and Health Care Organization. I think I started salivating just TYPING that. So cool so cool SO COOL.
Not sure what I will do when I am done, but I have 2 years to decide and this program will definitely help me figure it out. The cool thing is that the MPH is a stand alone degree- so I can start a career in public health when I am done if I want to. I will also be full prepared to pursue med school, a phd, or a career after this. I have to decide and reply to them by May 12th. I am 90% sure I am going to accept, but I just want to ponder a little bit. Classes start the last week of August.
Who wants to road trip with Chaz and I to Boston at the end of August?
Love, etc
Becca
4.20.2010
This volcano is cramping my style
Chaz-o-lantern!!
The 23 year old version of Becca
To summarize my complete and utter success of a birthday:
Expensive and memorable trip to whole foods, discovery of English apple sauce and cup cake pans, dried cherries, sorbet, trip home carrying 2 super heavy bags to Waterloo, bag nearly relax, make and eat carrot cake cup cakes [cccc's] like you have never seen, must convert recipe to silly English measurements, M-Zuck saved the day with baking supplies, eat cupcakes for bfast, bring CCCC to work, coworkers asked for recipe, great, good margs, great friends, epic lemon cake, baller brownies, gifts- yes!, Wahaca = proof good Mex in London, v-necks a plenty, brainstorming, happy hour!, patron silver, bday cards that are now on my fridge [thank you!], new pics, almost naming the Project, and home by 10:30pm. 10:40pm- Checked email and I have an interview with SLU! BOOM.
Basically, all of the days last week leading up to my birthday were some of the best I have had in London. Nice weather and flip flops helped. Everything was just so good. I am very fortunate to have some kick ass friends here in London who definitely made my mini celebration one of the best ones in recent memory!! Really, thanks guys!! I am also really fortunate to have so many people who still cared about my bday even though I am 4000 miles away. Double Bonus!
Then a volcano in Iceland started going off, airports shut down in Europe, any incoming packages are stranded in the states, if the big volcano goes off I am screwed, and I wish it had a name that I could pronounce. I'm watching the situation like a hawk...
So much work to do this week. I worked for 7 straight hours after I got home this afternoon. I am putting my heart and soul into this project...and I am pretty sure this is the first time I have worked so hard for something completely unrelated to school. When I have more than 20 minutes, I will actually write a more detailed letter to you, chazm.
All you need to know is that I am 23, I [+MZuck] make a mean cccc, I actually have a future [grad school], I am a busy badger, a volcano erupted, shit got crazy in Europe but not in Iceland, tons of people lives became very stressful, but my life still kicks ass.
I miss you like Europe misses its airspace,
The 23 year old version of Becca
4.09.2010
Fact: Colorado > Your State
fanCHAZstic!
Spring has sprung in the UK. Today, I wore flip flops. As a double bonus, my feet weren't cold. It felt so right. like home. like summer. While my feet were happy, the rest of my body wasn't. I'm sick. I get sick so often, in fact, I feel like a Native American infant about the time the English [or other Europeans] spread all their diseases when they discovered North America. The poor Indians never stood a chance against those white people and their nasty diseases. In a vaguely similar situation, my immune system has forgotten its own existence. Perhaps it is at heathrow customs... All I know is that if I get small pox, I will be extraordinary furious ...until I remember that I was vaccinated for that 20 years ago.
Speaking of unsavory conditions, I cut the crap out of my hand when I was cutting a bagel in half. Not only was my bagel not cut evenly, but I bled on it. It's a pretty gnarly cut too. I think my motor function is declining because every three days I kick the side of my couch and annihilate my pinky toe. I don't know whats worse, toe stub without warning or feeling like an idiot for making the same painful mistake an absurd number of times. Either way, it's a low point.
Continuing on with unsavory conditions, Gordon Brown announced Britain's election would be on May 6. Why is this unsavory? I have no idea. I don't know what the f is going to happen but I do know that there are like 4 different big political parties and that I cannot be bothered to try and remember their policies in a form government that might as well be anarchy to me. It is common knowledge that BBC news is painfully boring. The only thing more boring than BBC news is BBC political news I would rather read every NHS evidence based document than watch that. I seriously doubt that conditions will become unsavory, but I do know that all politics = unsavory, therefore election season = playing dirty for power. Maybe I'll see a riot.
Speaking of things that are not here, I am going to go with chazman crothers as the most obvious. It's almost torture when I talk to my parents on skype cause I see chaz roaming around and being cute. But then it's cool because Molly and Maggie (my sister's dog) are really confused by the sound of my voice. Molly goes bipolar and gets real aggressive and Maggie just looks to see if I was crouching behind the computer. I started thinking last night about grad school. The odds of me staying in rado are slim. Which sucks, because CO has the best tasting water and coincidentally, is also the best state. Just sayin'. All of my top choices are in the east...which, from my experience is really f'ing cold. One that goes straight to the bones. Truth, I am from CO [cold and snowy winter] but there are some notable differences: humidity and intensity. Snow in the CO has never been dubbed a 'snowicane' or 'snowpacalypse'. I mean, we have had 4 snow days in a row, but snowpacalypse? Naming a storm after an event that is synonymous total devastation and the end of the world? I'll take my unpredictable rado weather. Thanks for playing.
On to things that actually matter: yesterday, another different member of the SSP set up a meeting with me for today. He told me that he was "only bringing a pad of paper and a pen, and wanted to hear about every idea I have and all the research I have" been doing. It was a welcomed change of pace and went really well! My hope is now that my input will be more heavily considered. Not that that is really even an issue, but I wanted to make sure to use this mini opp to reiterate the fact that I know my shit. Mission accomplished.
In a throwback that defined my previous life, I have homework for this weekend. I need to think about what a 'health literate' child is like; characteristics, behaviours, outlooks, etc. So this weekend I am going to reluctantly dive back into the murky, vague, non-existent world of child health literacy. On the plus side, we came up with a really catchy phrase that summarizes the programme (and health literacy) perfectly. Educate, Engage, and Empower. Phase 1 is about a new curriculum and thus, health education. Phase 2 is about re-engaging kids with poor eating/exercise habits. Phase 3 is about empowering the kiddies and their parents so they can make healthy choices for the rest of their happy healthy lives... aka our 'working definition' of health literacy. BOOM. Even better? You get a long-term sustainable programme. BOOM.
In other news, my day of birth falls on this coming Thursday, which means that in an unrelated event, all you fools better have your taxes sorted! This weekend, I am going go on a quest for cup cake pans this... because nothing makes you feel more like a 23 year old college graduate than taking cup cakes to work. With sprinkles.
Keep this between you and me...but you have start calling me collect, chazman. My phone bill was a little ridiculous last month. Pretty sure if my bill returned to the realm of normal, my dad would be more willing to forgive your recent ahem, indiscretions. Yes, I am talking about the furniture. It's that or you can pull a Tiger Woods and go to rehab.
Stay Classy,
[after 12 nameless days]
4.07.2010
wisdom for your life
Dear Chazmasterflex,
WOWEEWOWWOW. It's been awhile, eh? Oops. Not too much has changed on this side of the pond. I am still doing tons of research. How much research? The articles/guidance/reviews now take up 2 x 1" Notebooks [in addition to my other notebook with the program outlines in it]. I have trying to find articles that support our rationale for the programme's design. Really though, I have just done a lot of reading in the past two weeks. Probably more than I did my last semester at CSU...which isn't really saying much. How about I have done this much reading since I took the MCAT? There's just...so...much...
THURSDAY, I finally saw Alice in Wonderland...in 3D. I was in the mood to act like a jackass that day. When the previews started [and I refused to put my 3D glasses on] I said loudly "I can't see a damn thing, why is it so blurry?!" I am NOT a big fan of movies in 3D. It's like they are trying to turn every theater into a baby Universal Studios. Guess what? This is not the era of 'Honey I Shrunk The Kids.' You give me 3D glasses and I am gonna keep 'em, damnit. So I did. We left and headed to Mandy's bf's [Alex!] gig. His band is called 'Telegrams' and they were at a place in Islington...no clue what the name of the bar was, but I DO know it was directly next door to a pub called 'The Famous Cock'. I am proud to say that I took a photo. Telegrams [Alex, even thought this is right its weird for me to not have a 'the' in it. haha] are a great band- there's def some excellent music there. I mean, knowing someone in the band helps, but you can't deny the sound...it's very unique but it doesn't take a long time to adjust to it. I think that's why I like it.
FRIDAY afternoon I made the trek down to Chichester to stay with VW's family for Easter. The train ride down = beautiful. The sun was shining and I was rocking my ray-bans ON the train. I am so glad I went because they basically adopted me and it was so much more enjoyable than solo London would have been. Chichester is a smallish town/city in Southern England about 2 hours away from London by train. Recently, it was the location of grand theft auto...committed by a 4 year old [FOUR. YEARS. OLD.] Apparently he hijacked [by hijacked I mean stood on the drivers seat] his parents car and drove it like 8 miles down the interstate AND through a round about or two. Mind = Blown. That 4 year old is ballin out of control [literally]. Once I arrived, I was greeted by her FOUR [yes, FOUR] brothers. Since I only have one brother and he tends to be the total opposite of me [quiet and reserved], I found them extremely entertaining. To say the least. haha. In addition, they had a black lab and 2 cats. I was SO SO thrilled to see live animals that I could pet somewhere other than doing their business in the park by my house. I literally spent half my time petting their cat. Truthfully, because I miss you, Chaz... oh so much! In fact, I spent so much time with Flora that I wouldn't be surprised if her family thought I was a nutter.
SATURDAY, we went to Arundel castle. Fun for the whole family, except one bro, who claimed that it was my fault he wasn't going [no room in the car with me], but in reality, he just didn't want to go. Silly, lazy boy. Haha. The castle was cool...I love the fact that in England you can just drive a couple of minutes and BAM!! there is a sick castle. After the castle, we went back into Chichester and got 'pasties'. Which, for all intents and purposes, is a hand held chicken pot pie...[and other fillings]. It was quite tasty. When we roaming we stumbled upon a sweet shop. I got some candy that where each piece was shaped like a flying saucer. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that's what they were called. The outside tasted like foamy nothing-ness and there was a pixi-stix-like powder on the inside [they call it sherbert..isn't that a form of ice cream?]. Initially, I was so confused by the foamy bit that I had to ask VW if the outside was edible. She tells me it was...
SUNDAY = Easter tom foolery! To summarize: roast beast, Yorkshire pudding, copious amounts of chocolate, Easter bunny, food coma, peas, carrots, crosswords, chocolate, meat, gravy, parsnips, wine, petting the cat, family fun, holiday comparison between Brits and 'mericans, friendly banter, and homemade Easter baskets.
THURSDAY, I finally saw Alice in Wonderland...in 3D. I was in the mood to act like a jackass that day. When the previews started [and I refused to put my 3D glasses on] I said loudly "I can't see a damn thing, why is it so blurry?!" I am NOT a big fan of movies in 3D. It's like they are trying to turn every theater into a baby Universal Studios. Guess what? This is not the era of 'Honey I Shrunk The Kids.' You give me 3D glasses and I am gonna keep 'em, damnit. So I did. We left and headed to Mandy's bf's [Alex!] gig. His band is called 'Telegrams' and they were at a place in Islington...no clue what the name of the bar was, but I DO know it was directly next door to a pub called 'The Famous Cock'. I am proud to say that I took a photo. Telegrams [Alex, even thought this is right its weird for me to not have a 'the' in it. haha] are a great band- there's def some excellent music there. I mean, knowing someone in the band helps, but you can't deny the sound...it's very unique but it doesn't take a long time to adjust to it. I think that's why I like it.
FRIDAY afternoon I made the trek down to Chichester to stay with VW's family for Easter. The train ride down = beautiful. The sun was shining and I was rocking my ray-bans ON the train. I am so glad I went because they basically adopted me and it was so much more enjoyable than solo London would have been. Chichester is a smallish town/city in Southern England about 2 hours away from London by train. Recently, it was the location of grand theft auto...committed by a 4 year old [FOUR. YEARS. OLD.] Apparently he hijacked [by hijacked I mean stood on the drivers seat] his parents car and drove it like 8 miles down the interstate AND through a round about or two. Mind = Blown. That 4 year old is ballin out of control [literally]. Once I arrived, I was greeted by her FOUR [yes, FOUR] brothers. Since I only have one brother and he tends to be the total opposite of me [quiet and reserved], I found them extremely entertaining. To say the least. haha. In addition, they had a black lab and 2 cats. I was SO SO thrilled to see live animals that I could pet somewhere other than doing their business in the park by my house. I literally spent half my time petting their cat. Truthfully, because I miss you, Chaz... oh so much! In fact, I spent so much time with Flora that I wouldn't be surprised if her family thought I was a nutter.
SATURDAY, we went to Arundel castle. Fun for the whole family, except one bro, who claimed that it was my fault he wasn't going [no room in the car with me], but in reality, he just didn't want to go. Silly, lazy boy. Haha. The castle was cool...I love the fact that in England you can just drive a couple of minutes and BAM!! there is a sick castle. After the castle, we went back into Chichester and got 'pasties'. Which, for all intents and purposes, is a hand held chicken pot pie...[and other fillings]. It was quite tasty. When we roaming we stumbled upon a sweet shop. I got some candy that where each piece was shaped like a flying saucer. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that's what they were called. The outside tasted like foamy nothing-ness and there was a pixi-stix-like powder on the inside [they call it sherbert..isn't that a form of ice cream?]. Initially, I was so confused by the foamy bit that I had to ask VW if the outside was edible. She tells me it was...
SUNDAY = Easter tom foolery! To summarize: roast beast, Yorkshire pudding, copious amounts of chocolate, Easter bunny, food coma, peas, carrots, crosswords, chocolate, meat, gravy, parsnips, wine, petting the cat, family fun, holiday comparison between Brits and 'mericans, friendly banter, and homemade Easter baskets.
Here's what I learned as an American experiencing Easter in an English household:
- Easter is a big deal here...Obviously, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving so it is another one of those family gatherings with lots of food with some form of gravy.
- The fam made their Easter baskets from thick, colored, card paper... Folded into a box- like the ones you see at Christmas...a gift box.
- Apparently, I am completely inept when it comes to making a 'basket' from scratch. I definitely tried, but after 40 minutes I just had a piece of card paper with like 27 random creases in it. To sum up, Vicki's mom had to make mine for me.
- The Easter Bunny comes around at night and puts goodies in your basket that is placed outside your bed room door. Very similar to the whole Christmas stocking situation. I am beginning to think that this is what Santa does in the off season.
- Each kid gets a GIGANTIC chocolate egg...like bigger than my palm. In my case, I got one from her parents, grandma, and boyfriend. THREE MASSIVE CHOCOLATE EGGS! In addition to the goodies in my Easter basket...I didn't think I was going to be able to get it all back on the train so I ate a bunch. Problem solved.
- The parsnip is a root vegetable that looks like a white carrot and tastes like a sweeter version of a weird vegetable. The moral of the story is that now I can say I have had a parsnip. Don't need to do that again. It wasn't too bad, but the word on the street is that parsnips are related to radishes...and I hate radishes. Probably about as much as I hate coffee sick. sick. sick. I think that may be my most hated food. That and beets. Where's the fire?
- Yorkshire Pudding ≠ actual pudding [if you didn't know, that is a 'not equal to' sign]. It isn't even liquid. It is made out of [English] pancake batter and baked in a miniature, hollow, cup cake shape...and its savory. You pour gravy on it?
- What would Easter be without an Easter tree? It is a Christmas trees only 1/6 the size. Twas a skinny little tree [think Charlie Browns tree] with decorative eggs hanging from it.
- I am beginning to recognize many similarities between Easter and Christmas. I suppose Jesus' birthday and subsequent resurrection have one major thing in common: I'm gonna go with...Jesus?
- Cadbury mini eggs in the states are not the same ones as the ones in England. Apparently, in the US, the eggs are commissioned by Cadbury but made by Hershey...I definitely noticed the difference in taste. I think I may like the American ones better....shhh
TODAY we had Wii Fit's set up in the lobby...I was there with my colleague to promote healthy snack. Here's a fun fact: If you drink 2 sodas and 1 bar of chocolate a day, every day for a month, you will gain 4.5 pounds [2 kilos]. Thursday and Friday I will be working at the next set of NHS Health Checks. Similar to last time, I will be offering guidance to individuals who want guidance/advice/tips, etc..
Graduate School Update...
I should hear from CSU, Tufts, and SLU by the first week of June and Penn State any time now. Not sure when the other schools will be making their decisions, but the Creighton deadline is on my birthday, so I should get that decision about the same time. My apps to Ohio State, Creighton, BU, and Mizzou are all in, I just have no idea when I will hear from them.I have decided to rank the schools...because my mom asked me to. Dear JC, please let me get in to at least ONE school.
[1] Penn State
[2] Tufts Univ
[3] Boston Univ/Mizzou
[4] St Louis Univ/Creighton
[5] CSU
[6] Ohio State
IN other news, SJ's mom sent me a card with a bunch of pictures in it!! I now have 10 pictures of Molly and Ginny from January. As it turns out, I'm actually getting about one legitimate piece of mail/week, which is more than I have gotten for the past 22 years living in the US. As if this week wasn't great enough, I got a package from my mom this morning!! Brownies, cookies, orbit gum (my specific flavor), and bday cards/presents. Best way to start the day: brownies for breakfast.
FYI: I love London, I love my job, and I love my life. As of my birthday, I will be halfway through my internship. When did that happen?
COUNTDOWNS: 8 days until I am 23. 12 days 'til the sunset is officially after 8pm. 23 days until I go to France. 53 days until Sarah visits. 68 days left in London. 50-53-ish days until your bday, Chazm! My B. I keep changing my mind about what day should be your official day or birth...sometime between May 25-31. I think. 129 days 'til Mile High Music Festival 2k10.
As always, I miss you like an addict misses whatever they were addicted to. Take care of yourself, palbert.
Love, etc
Bec
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